Abstract
This study estimated the prevalence and correlates of PTSD in Kenyan school children during a period of widespread post-election violence. The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index was administered to 2482 primary and secondary school students ages 11–17 from rural and urban communities. A high proportion of school children had witnessed people being shot at, beat up or killed (46.9%) or had heard about the violent death or serious injury of a loved one (42.0%). Over one quarter (26.8%, 95% CI = 25.1% - 28.7%) met criteria for PTSD. Correlates of PTSD included living in a rural (vs urban) area (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.41–2.11), attending primary (vs secondary) school (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.67–3.04) and being a girl (with girl as referent AOR = .70, 95% CI = .57–.86). We recommend training Kenyan teachers to recognize signs of emotional distress in school children and psychosocial counselors to adapt empirically-supported mental health interventions for delivery in primary and secondary school settings.
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Acknowledgements
We want to thank Sharon W. Kiche, MPH, for her help with the literature review.
The design and field work for the study were self-sponsored. Statistical analyses and writing were supported through a Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Award to the University of Nairobi from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health/Fogarty International Center, R25 MH099132.
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Mbwayo, A.W., Mathai, M., Harder, V.S. et al. Trauma among Kenyan School Children in Urban and Rural Settings: PTSD Prevalence and Correlates. Journ Child Adol Trauma 13, 63–73 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-019-00256-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-019-00256-2