Browsing by Author "Lee, Hee Y"

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    Exposure to Violence and Other Characteristics Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Students in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2023) Chipalo, Edson; Carlson, Catherine
    Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent among young refugees, particularly those who have experienced multiple forms of violence before, during, and post-settlement. This study investigated the overall prevalence of PTSD among students, and examined whether exposure to violence or other characteristics were associated with PTSD symptoms among students in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania. Secondary analysis of baseline cross-sectional data from the 2018 Preventing Violence Against Children in Schools (PVACS) study from the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp was utilized. The sample size included 711 students aged 11 to 27 nested in 27 schools who responded to the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), which was used to assess PTSD symptoms (outcome). Univariates were performed using frequencies for categorical variables, and means were calculated for continuous variables. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, Independent samples t-tests, and Pearson correlations. Four multilevel linear regression models were conducted to appropriately examine nested variables associated with PTSD scores among the students.Approximately 24.5% of students fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for PTSD in the past two weeks. In the multilevel models, ICC results indicated that schools accounted for 7.6% of the variance in PTSD symptoms, and individual characteristics accounted for 92.4% of PTSD symptoms among students. Low social support, eating two or more meals during the previous day, and school connectedness were significantly negatively associated with PTSD symptoms. Alternatively, older age, being male, living without any biological parent, having functional difficulties, exposure to an unsafe environment, and experiencing community violence, school violence, and/or sexual violence were significantly positively associated with PTSD symptoms. The random effects results indicated that PTSD symptoms only marginally significantly varied based on school attendance. School nationalities and school types were not significantly associated with PTSD scores of the students. This study highlights several interventions effective for decreasing PTSD symptoms among students who experienced community, school, and/or sexual violence. Other strategies should focus on increasing social support and food security, promoting awareness, education, and policy implementation to prohibit and criminalize violence, and improving mental health service delivery to prevent PTSD symptoms among students. Finally, recommendations for future studies are further discussed.