THE PREVALENCE OF PTSD AMONG
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN
NGERENGE,KARONGA.
By
David W Sibale
St John of God College of Health Sciences,
Bsc in Clinical Medicine (MH) Student
13 April 2015
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BACK GROUND INFORMATION
 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been
prevalent among populations after events like
earthquakes, wars, floods, major fires, serious
transport accidents, assault, rape and others.
 Symptoms include exposure, re-experiencing,
avoidance, hyper arousal, duration >1/12 and
social occupational dysfunction.
 Earthquakes are caused by rapture of
geological faults, volcanic activity, landslides,
etc
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BACK GROUND CTD
 The Karonga earthquakes occurred in
December 2009 till mid 2011. Most intense
ones measured 3.0 and 6.3 on the Richter's
scale causing serious destruction of property,
bodily injuries and 3 deaths.
OBJECTIVES
 To determine the prevalence of Post traumatic
stress disorder among earthquake survivors of
Ngerenge in Karonga.
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METHODS
 Design: Quantitative design was used. A cross
sectional and non interventional study.
 Sampling: A total of 382 subjects were
screened for PTSD using a structured SRQ.
Randomly selected from ten villages. Every
fifth client was requested to participate.
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METHODS ctd/…
 Data collection: A PTSD self report
questionaire, adapted from the National
Research Institute for Community studies was
used to collect data.
 Ethical clearance was sought from research
committees of SJOG college, MZUNI and
National Research council among others.
 SPSS version 16.0 was used to analyze data.
Chi-square was used to test associations.
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RESULTS
Sample description
Social demographic characteristics:
 The mean age of the respondents in years was 39.5.
39.5% (n= 151) were males
 Primary education 10.7% (n= 41), JCE 13.4% (n= 51) and
MSCE in 7.3% (n= 28).
 86.1%(n= 329) were married while 13.4% were either not
married or widowed.
 Good premorbid health status was reported in 88.2% (n=
337) but poor in 11.8% (n= 45).
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RESULTS ctd/….
 Prevalence of PTSD: 184 subjects out 382 met
the diagnostic 1+3+2 criteria for PTSD (Scot &
Straddling,2001). This represents a 48.2%
prevalence.
 Factors associated with PTSD
 Poor premorbid health status (p= 0.008) was
associated with Post traumatic stress disorder.
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DISCUSSION
 The high rate of PTSD was found to be in
agreement with findings in Iran of
66.7%,(Ziaaddini et al, 2009); Haiti (with
ranges of 3.3 to 50% (Columbia Univ,2010)
and Turkey of 32 to 60% (National centre for
PTSD, 1993) in adult survivors.
 Intensity & homelessness may have
contributed.
 Premorbid health status was significantly
associated with PTSD
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DISCUSSION ctd/…
•
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Study limitations and implications.
The structured questionaire.
Questionaire not culturally validated.
A cross sectional study.
Contaminating factors like floods in part of the
area.
 History and maturation
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Conclusion
 These study findings underscore the need for
a biopsychosocial approach in disaster
management strategies and interventions.
 Further studies to explore on comorbid
depression which is likely.
 Follow up by stake holders on interventions.
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Acknowledgements
 Mr H. Chilale, my research supervisor.
 Mr Masulani Mwale on imparting knowledge
on statistics and other lecturers on various
dimensions of support.
 My research assistants- AEHO and 4 HSAs.
 The DHO, DC, all traditional leaders and
community people of Ngerenge for their
untiring support during the study.
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