How common were PTSD and depression symptoms in post-war Juba?

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The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005 ended more than 20 years of civil conflict in Sudan, a conflict marked by widespread violence and large-scale forced migration. Mental health is recognized as a key public health issue for conflict-affected populations. Studies during the conflict found high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among populations from Southern Sudan, but no studies had been conducted on mental health in post-war Southern Sudan.

The researchers aimed to measure PTSD and depression in Juba and investigate their associations with demographic factors, displacement, and past and recent trauma exposure. In November 2007, they conducted a cross-sectional random cluster survey of 1,242 adults over age 18 in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan. They measured traumatic-event exposure and PTSD with the original Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and depression with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. They used multivariate logistic regression to analyze associations of demographic, displacement and trauma exposure variables with PTSD and depression. They also used multivariate logistic regression to investigate which demographic and displacement variables were associated with traumatic-event exposure.

Of the respondents, 36% met symptom criteria for PTSD and 50% met symptom criteria for depression. The analysis found strong associations of gender, marital status, forced displacement and trauma exposure with PTSD and depression outcomes. Men, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and people displaced more than once were all significantly more likely to have experienced eight or more traumatic events.

The authors concluded that the study provided evidence of high levels of mental distress and associated risk factors in Juba’s population. They said comprehensive social and psychological assistance was urgently required in Juba.