PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi
Abstract Background The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was a major traumatic event affecting nearly all Rwandans. Significant psychological sequels continue to occur in the population 25 years after, with a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found in women. Three groups are typ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-019-0362-4 |
| _version_ | 1818643710156472320 |
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| author | Celestin Mutuyimana Vincent Sezibera Epaphrodite Nsabimana Lambert Mugabo Cindi Cassady Clarisse Musanabaganwa Yvonne Kayiteshonga |
| author_facet | Celestin Mutuyimana Vincent Sezibera Epaphrodite Nsabimana Lambert Mugabo Cindi Cassady Clarisse Musanabaganwa Yvonne Kayiteshonga |
| author_sort | Celestin Mutuyimana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was a major traumatic event affecting nearly all Rwandans. Significant psychological sequels continue to occur in the population 25 years after, with a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found in women. Three groups are typically designated with regard to the Genocide against the Tutsi: those who were targeted and categorized as genocide “survivors,” those who were in the country during the genocide and were the “non-targeted” group, and those who were outside of the country, referred to as the “1959 returnees.” Each group experienced various traumatic events during and in the aftermath of the genocide. Offspring of the designated groups, currently exhibit symptoms of PTSD disregarding of being born in the years following the genocide. A number of studies have described the prevalence of PTSD in the general adult population. There is a lack of research comparing the prevalence of PTSD in women and their offspring among these three target groups, therefore, this study aimed to bridge the gap. Methods We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study with a sample of 432 mothers and 432 children in three categories: genocide survivors, in country non-targeted and 1959 returnees. Participant ages for children were between 14 to 22 years and for mothers, between the ages of 32 to 87 years. The UCLA-PTSD DSM-5, PTSD Check list-5 and Life events Checklist-5 were translated from English to Kinyarwanda and were used to assess exposure to trauma and the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in Rwandan mothers and their offspring. Results Key Results yield a PTSD rate of 18.8, 6.2, 5.2% within survivors, in country non-targeted, and returnees respectively with an average PTSD rate of 43.8% for parents, and 16.5% for offspring. Conclusion PTSD among the mothers’ groups and their offspring have been found, specifically in the offspring of genocide survivors. Considering these adolescents were not born at the time of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the results suggest future studies should explore the precipitating factors contributing to the PTSD symptoms within this specific group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T00:03:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b30567bd27ad42dea0979cb63f55fc87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T00:03:17Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b30567bd27ad42dea0979cb63f55fc872022-12-21T22:11:01ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832019-12-01711710.1186/s40359-019-0362-4PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the TutsiCelestin Mutuyimana0Vincent Sezibera1Epaphrodite Nsabimana2Lambert Mugabo3Cindi Cassady4Clarisse Musanabaganwa5Yvonne Kayiteshonga6Centre for Mental Health, University of RwandaCentre for Mental Health, University of RwandaHope and Homes for ChildrenCentre for Mental Health, University of RwandaDepartment of Clinical Psychology, University of KibungoMedical Research Centre, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of HealthMental Health Division, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of HealthAbstract Background The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was a major traumatic event affecting nearly all Rwandans. Significant psychological sequels continue to occur in the population 25 years after, with a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found in women. Three groups are typically designated with regard to the Genocide against the Tutsi: those who were targeted and categorized as genocide “survivors,” those who were in the country during the genocide and were the “non-targeted” group, and those who were outside of the country, referred to as the “1959 returnees.” Each group experienced various traumatic events during and in the aftermath of the genocide. Offspring of the designated groups, currently exhibit symptoms of PTSD disregarding of being born in the years following the genocide. A number of studies have described the prevalence of PTSD in the general adult population. There is a lack of research comparing the prevalence of PTSD in women and their offspring among these three target groups, therefore, this study aimed to bridge the gap. Methods We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study with a sample of 432 mothers and 432 children in three categories: genocide survivors, in country non-targeted and 1959 returnees. Participant ages for children were between 14 to 22 years and for mothers, between the ages of 32 to 87 years. The UCLA-PTSD DSM-5, PTSD Check list-5 and Life events Checklist-5 were translated from English to Kinyarwanda and were used to assess exposure to trauma and the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in Rwandan mothers and their offspring. Results Key Results yield a PTSD rate of 18.8, 6.2, 5.2% within survivors, in country non-targeted, and returnees respectively with an average PTSD rate of 43.8% for parents, and 16.5% for offspring. Conclusion PTSD among the mothers’ groups and their offspring have been found, specifically in the offspring of genocide survivors. Considering these adolescents were not born at the time of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the results suggest future studies should explore the precipitating factors contributing to the PTSD symptoms within this specific group.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-019-0362-4PTSDPrevalenceSurvivorsIn country non-targetedOld returneesOffspring |
| spellingShingle | Celestin Mutuyimana Vincent Sezibera Epaphrodite Nsabimana Lambert Mugabo Cindi Cassady Clarisse Musanabaganwa Yvonne Kayiteshonga PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi BMC Psychology PTSD Prevalence Survivors In country non-targeted Old returnees Offspring |
| title | PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi |
| title_full | PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi |
| title_fullStr | PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi |
| title_full_unstemmed | PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi |
| title_short | PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi |
| title_sort | ptsd prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the tutsi |
| topic | PTSD Prevalence Survivors In country non-targeted Old returnees Offspring |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-019-0362-4 |
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