title: A cross-sectional survey on gender-based violence and mental health among female urban refugees and asylum seekers in Kampala, Uganda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess gender-based violence and mental health outcomes among a population of female urban refugees and asylum seekers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study conducted in 2010 in Kampala, Uganda, a study team interviewed a stratified random sample of female refugees and asylum seekers aged 15-59 years from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. Questionnaires were used to collect information about recent and lifetime exposure to sexual and physical violence, and symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 500 women selected, 117 (23.4%) completed interviews. The weighted lifetime prevalences of experiencing any (physical and/or sexual) violence, physical violence, and sexual violence were 77.5% (95% CI 66.6-88.4), 76.2% (95% CI 65.2-87.2), and 63.3% (95% CI 51.2-75.4), respectively. Lifetime history of physical violence was associated with PTSD symptoms (P<0.001), as was lifetime history of sexual violence (P=0.014). Overall, 112 women had symptoms of depression (weighted prevalence 92.0; 95% CI 83.9-100) and 83 had PTSD symptoms (weighted prevalence 71.1; 95% CI 59.9-82.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalences of violence, depression, and PTSD symptoms among female urban refugees in Kampala are high. Additional services and increased availability of psychosocial programs for refugees are needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, Field Support Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: dmorof@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Diane F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Morof
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sami
authors.affiliation: Community Services, Gender-based violence Project, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mangeni
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanton
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara Lopes
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomczyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012998:Somalia; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asylum seekers; Depression; Mental health; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Refugees; Uganda; Urban refugees; Violence