The mental health of internally displaced persons: an epidemiological study of adults in two settlements in Central Sudan.

Journal: The International journal of social psychiatry

Volume: 59

Issue: 8

Year of Publication: 2014

Affiliated Institutions:  Institute of Clinical Medicine, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway.

Abstract summary 

There is a scarcity of data on mental health problems among Sudanese internally displaced persons (IDPs). This study aims to assess the prevalence of mental disorders of IDPs in Sudan, and to determine and compare the association between mental disorders and socio-demographic variables between the rural and urban long-term IDP populations.This cross-sectional study was implemented in two IDP areas in Central Sudan. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires to assess socio-demographic factors and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to determine psychiatric diagnoses. A total of 1,876 adults were enrolled from both study areas.The overall prevalence of having any mental health disorder in the IDP population was 52.9%. The most common disorders were major depressive disorder (24.3%), generalized anxiety disorder (23.6%), social phobia (14.2%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (12.3%). Years of displacement and education were associated with different mental disorders between the two areas, and there were no gender differences in prevalence of mental disorders in either area.This study shows high prevalence rates of mental disorders in both urban and rural IDP populations in Sudan, indicating a need to explore the circumstances for these high rates and to develop appropriate responses.

Authors & Co-authors:  Salah Tarig Taha Mohamed TT Abdelrahman Abdallah A Lien Lars L Eide Arne Henning AH Martinez Priscilla P Hauff Edvard E

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1177/0020764012456810
SSN : 1741-2854
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Internally displaced persons;Sudan;mental disorders;rural;urban
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Sudan
Publication Country
England