Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among adult war survivors in Northwest Ethiopia: Community-based, cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: A person may endure or witness a traumatic incident, such as being exposed to war, and, as a result, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is a lack of information about post-traumatic stress disorder in low and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia. However, armed conflict, abuse of human rights, and violence motivated by race are becoming more commonplace. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD and associated factors among war survivors in Nefas Meewcha Town, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was carried out. 812 study participants were chosen using a multi-stage sampling process. A face-to-face interview used a post-traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5) to evaluate PTSD. The association between PTSD and other demographic and psychosocial characteristics was investigated using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. A P-value of 0.05 was declared as statistical significance. Result: The prevalence of PTSD in this study was 40.8% with a 95% CI of 36.2 to 46.7. The likelihood of developing PTSD was significantly associated with the fallowing factors. A close family member killed or seriously injured (AOR = 4.53, 95% CI = 3.25–6.46), being female (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.3–3.0), moderate (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.52–4.68) and high perceived stress (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI = 3.47–8.26), depression symptoms (AOR = 4.92, 95% CI = 3.57–6.86), anxiety disorder symptoms (AOR = 5.24, 95% CI = 3.72–7.63), a chronic medical illness (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.52–5.41), physical assault (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.05–3.72) and being in a war fighting situation (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.21–3.14). Conclusion: This study reported that the prevalence of PTSD was high. Being female, having a previous history of chronic medical illness, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, history of a family member or friend was injured or killed, poor social support, high perceived stress, physical assault, and being in a war fighting situation were statistically associated with PTSD. Hence, regular patient assessment by mental health organizations for those with a history of trauma and facilitation of ways to support such residents is highly recommended.