Psychological status of Sarajevo children after war: 1999-2000 survey.
OBJECTIVE
To make a survey of children's health and psychosocial needs after the 1992-1995 war in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.


METHODS
Representative samples of school-age children (n=310) from 6 public schools in the Sarajevo Canton, their parents (n=280), and teachers (n=156) were surveyed by means of self-administered questionnaires and standardized psychometric scale (Ryan-Wengers Schoolagers Coping Strategies Inventory). The survey was conducted in October-November 1999, approximately four years after the war.


RESULTS
At the time of survey, well-being of children in Sarajevo was still heavily impacted by many various unhealthy life conditions and psychosocial stressors. Many school-age children lived in unhealthy and dangerous environment, including overcrowded living conditions (40%), unsafe playgrounds (68%), and no access to sports fields (52%). Most felt unsafe on streets (74%), many (73%) coped with one or more school problems, and even 84% were ill at least once during the past 12 months. General poverty was the prime stressor (common variance explained: 23.5%), followed by school- and health-related risks (common variance explained: 17.0%). At the third place were family-associated risk factors impacting children's health and development, such as overcrowded living conditions and lack of social support within their own family (common variance explained: 10.5%). Parents and teachers also lived and worked in stressful life conditions and were concerned for both their children's and their own well-being. Despite all that, most children tended to use healthy strategies in coping with stressful events in their everyday lives.


CONCLUSIONS
The reinforcement of children with positive (healthy) coping skills and strengthening of their social support networks seems to be the most important intervention strategy to help the war-traumatized children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Baràth
Arpád
A
Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Pécs University Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Rokus u. 2, 7632 Pécs, Hungary. arpad@btk.pte.hu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011584:Psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014505:Urban Population; D014857:Warfare