Citation

Abadi MH, Shamblen SR, Johnson K, Thompson K, Young L, Courser M, Vanderhoff J, Browne T. Int. J. Women. Health 2012; 4(1): 155-165.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Dove Press)

DOI

10.2147/ijwh.s28737

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Denial of human rights, gender disparities, and living in a war zone can be associated with severe depression and poor social functioning, especially for female drug abusers. This study of Afghan women in drug abuse treatment (DAT) centers assesses (a) the extent to which these women have experienced human rights violations and mental health problems prior to entering the DAT centers, and (b) whether there are specific risk factors for human rights violations among this population. A total of 176 in-person interviews were conducted with female patients admitted to three drug abuse treatment centers in Afghanistan in 2010. Nearly all women (91%) reported limitations with social functioning. Further, 41% of the women indicated they had suicide ideation and 27% of the women had attempted suicide at least once 30 days prior to entering the DAT centers due to feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Half of the women (50%) experienced at least one human rights violation in the past year prior to entering the DAT centers. Risk factors for human rights violations among this population include marital status, ethnicity, literacy, employment status, entering treatment based on one's own desire, limited social functioning, and suicide attempts.

CONCLUSIONS stemming from the results are discussed. © 2012 Abadi et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human rights; human; Women; social interaction; mental health; sexual abuse; female; aged; cannabis; Mental health; suicidal ideation; anxiety; suicide attempt; interview; major depression; social isolation; drug abuse; posttraumatic stress disorder; amphetamine; cocaine; ethnicity; risk factor; Afghanistan; article; major clinical study; controlled study; barbituric acid derivative; marriage; health care access; health service; opiate; coping behavior; methamphetamine; social status; social behavior; diamorphine; drug dependence treatment; reliability; sedative agent; tranquilizer; psychedelic agent; women's health; employment status; Human rights; mandrax; Drug abuse treatment