title: Probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Kenya and Its Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and its associated risk factors in a general household population in Kenya. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional household survey of mental disorders and their associated risk factors. The participants received a structured epidemiological assessment of common mental disorders, and symptoms of PTSD, accompanied by additional sections on socio-demographic data, life events, social networks, social supports, disability/activities of daily living, quality of life, use of health services, and service use. The study found that 48% had experienced a severe trauma, and an overall prevalence rate of 10.6% of probable PTSD, defined as a score of six or more on the trauma screening questionnaire (TSQ). The conditional probability of PTSD was 0.26. Risk factors include being female, single, self-employed, having experienced recent life events, having a common mental disorder (CMD)and living in an institution before age 16. The study indicates that probable PTSD is prevalent in this rural area of Kenya. The findings are relevant for the training of front line health workers, their support and supervision, for health management information systems, and for mental health promotion in state boarding schools.
authors.affiliation: Health Services and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, de Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Rachel@olan.org.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Kenya, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. P. O. Box 19676-00202. cjothieno@uonbi.ac.ke.
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Othieno
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54-40100 Kisumu, Kenya. romollov@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omollo
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54-40100 Kisumu, Kenya. longeri@kemri.org.
authors.forename: Linnet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ongeri
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54-40100 Kisumu, Kenya. psifuna@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sifuna
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi P.O.Box 30195-00100, Kenya. jkmboroki@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: James Kingora
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mboroki
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Nairobi P.O. Box 30016-00100, Kenya. dmkiima@gmail.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kiima
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54-40100 Kisumu, Kenya. ogutu6@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bernhards
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogutu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011057:Politics; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Kenya; common mental disorder; health and demographic surveillance systems; household survey; post-traumatic stress disorder