TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress among African female refugees and migrants in South Africa
JO  - South African journal of psychiatry
A1  - Mhlongo, Mpho D.
A1  - Tomita, Andrew
A1  - Thela, Lindokuhle
A1  - Maharaj, Varsha
A1  - Burns, Jonathan K.
SP  - e1208
EP  - e1208
VL  - 24
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: While there is considerable research in developed countries on the nature and extent of post-traumatic stress among refugees and migrants, few report on female Africans migrating within Africa.<br><br>AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to traumatic life events and post-traumatic stress disorder risk in refugees and migrants in Durban, South Africa, with specific focus on sexual trauma events among women.<br><br>METHODS: Interviews were conducted on 157 consenting non-South African adults using a sociodemographic questionnaire, Life Events Checklist (documenting traumatic events experienced) and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (measuring post-traumatic symptomatology). Associations between total number of traumatic events and post-traumatic stress were explored using adjusted regression models.<br><br>RESULTS: The results of one model indicated that greater numbers of traumatic life events experienced by women were associated with raised odds of post-traumatic stress disorder risk (β = 1.48; p < 0.001). Another model indicated that exposure to sexual trauma events were associated with greater odds of post-traumatic stress disorder risk (β = 4.09; p = 0.02).<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the critical importance of mental health service for females with history of sexual traumatic events for this vulnerable population.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1608-9685
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v24i0.1208
ID  - ref1
ER  -