title: Descriptive Characterization of Psycho-Trauma, Psychological Distress, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Children and Adolescent Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A postelection violent conflict in Kaduna resulted in 800 deaths and 65,000 displaced people leading to setting up of camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). We set out to determine the prevalence and pattern of psycho-traumatic stressful life events, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among child/adolescents IDPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study of 73 child/adolescent IDPs were selected by total sampling. Stressful life event checklist measured conflict-related trauma and reaction of adolescents to traumatic stress (RATS) measured post-trauma reaction of children/adolescents. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist 37 for Adolescents measured psychological distress associated with trauma. Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children was used for diagnosis of PTSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 73 respondents, 3 (4.1%) had probable PTSD, 2 (2.7%) had definitive PTSD, and mean score of the child/adolescent IDPs on HSCL-37A and RATS was 44.7 (SD = 6.3) and 31.9 (SD = 5.7), respectively. Most frequently occurring psychological distress among female participants was suddenly scared for no reason 7 (19.5%) and becoming angry easily and feeling fearful 5 (13.9%). The average score for female participants were higher than that for males on depressive and anxiety subscale of HSCL-37A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that children/adolescent IDPs were exposed to psycho-trauma following postelection violent conflict and developed psychological distress. However, the low prevalence of psychological distress and PTSD suggested that living with parents and psychosocial intervention provided could have led to much lower morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, Kaduna, Nigeria; Department of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Taiwo Lateef
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eseigbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tosin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adekeye
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Folorunsho Tajudeen
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Nuhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Modupe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lasisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Asiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Zainab Titilope
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Aishatu Abubakar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdullateef
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nafisatu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayyatudeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Kaduna , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akande
keywords: PTSD; children and adolescents; internally displaced persons; psycho-trauma; psychological distress