Suicidal feelings run high among mothers in refugee camps: a cross-sectional survey.
OBJECTIVE
To study levels of mental distress in a sample of Afghan mothers caring for children in two refugee camps in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of 297 consecutive mothers with young children, attending primary care centres, using a psychiatric screening instrument, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20).


RESULTS
One hundred and six (36%) of women in the sample screened positive for a common mental disorder. Ninety-six (91%) of those screening positive had had suicidal thoughts in the previous month, and nine (8%) rated suicidal feeling as their topmost concern.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence and severity of mental distress in Afghan mothers caring for young children in refugee camps. This may have serious long-term effects on the psychological and physical development of their children.
Rahman
A
A
Human Development Research Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan. atif.rahman@ntlworld.com
Hafeez
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*