Post migration factors associated with elevated symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, among refugees in Cape Town
- Authors: Mujuru, Agnes
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465810 , vital:76655
- Description: There has been a heavy influx of refugees in South Africa due to wars, conflicts, political persecution, and economic recessions around the world. As a result, South Africa hosts the highest number of African refugees, who are susceptible to mental health problems because of their exposure to war, violence, and post migration stressors. The current study assessed post migration predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety symptoms among refugees in Cape Town South Africa. A cross-sectional survey of refugees from war- and conflict-torn countries settled in Cape Town was conducted between February and May 2023. Study participants (N = 147) were selected using respondent driven sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire made up of the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Post- Migration Difficulties Checklist (PMLDs), to assess PTSD, depression, anxiety and PMLDs, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the questionnaire data. The prevalence of PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms was 26.5%, 33.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Regression analyses identified discrimination, poor access to health services, and poor access to food as the major predictors of common mental disorders among refugees. The document-seeking process, unemployment stress, language difficulties, not getting help with welfare, fears of being sent home and isolation, were also associated with symptoms of mental health conditions. These results suggest that psychological distress symptoms are highly elevated among refugees and are associated with post-migration stressors. Mental health interventions for refugees should not only address psychological difficulties but also consider the socio-economic needs of refugees. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Mujuru, Agnes
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465810 , vital:76655
- Description: There has been a heavy influx of refugees in South Africa due to wars, conflicts, political persecution, and economic recessions around the world. As a result, South Africa hosts the highest number of African refugees, who are susceptible to mental health problems because of their exposure to war, violence, and post migration stressors. The current study assessed post migration predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety symptoms among refugees in Cape Town South Africa. A cross-sectional survey of refugees from war- and conflict-torn countries settled in Cape Town was conducted between February and May 2023. Study participants (N = 147) were selected using respondent driven sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire made up of the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Post- Migration Difficulties Checklist (PMLDs), to assess PTSD, depression, anxiety and PMLDs, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the questionnaire data. The prevalence of PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms was 26.5%, 33.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Regression analyses identified discrimination, poor access to health services, and poor access to food as the major predictors of common mental disorders among refugees. The document-seeking process, unemployment stress, language difficulties, not getting help with welfare, fears of being sent home and isolation, were also associated with symptoms of mental health conditions. These results suggest that psychological distress symptoms are highly elevated among refugees and are associated with post-migration stressors. Mental health interventions for refugees should not only address psychological difficulties but also consider the socio-economic needs of refugees. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The acceptability of Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Primary Care (PE-PC) for the treatment of PTSD in a low resourced community in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Leboho, Lerato
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466191 , vital:76706
- Description: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a global mental health concern, especially in low- resourced communities that are characterised by limited access to health professionals, limited healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to evidence-based mental healthcare at primary care level. Over the last decade, several psychological trauma-focused therapies (TFTs), such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) have been developed to treat PTSD. In the context of the existing literature, studies done in HICs have explored the implementation and acceptability of prolonged exposure therapy at primary care level (PE-PC) as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Contrary to this, there is little to no implementation studies done to date that have examined the acceptability of empirically supported treatments (ESTs), such as PE in low-resourced countries, such as South Africa. Using the Implementation Science framework, ten participants were recruited to be interviewed, using semi-structured interviews, about their experiences and perceptions of PE-PC as a treatment for PTSD, and to also share their experiences of living with PTSD. The interview data was analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) method to determine whether PE-PC is an acceptable treatment for PTSD that can be administered at community level and highlights the importance of integrating mental health within primary healthcare practice. Based on the analysis four superordinate themes were identified, namely, lack and absence of social support; factors preventing trauma survivors from accessing EBTs; lack of knowledge regarding mental health literacy, and adaptation of a brief trauma-focused therapy in a low-resource community. The evidence this study shows that some of the factors that hinder the acceptability of trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) at community level, include stigma and discrimination, the absence of social support, limited resources, and inadequate knowledge on mental health and illness. Therefore, it makes sense of the urgency to implement evidence-based treatments (EBTs) in LMICs. Findings of this thesis suggest that (a) PE-PC should be adopted at community level, and that (b) PE-PC is an acceptable treatment for PTSD in low-resourced communities. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Leboho, Lerato
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466191 , vital:76706
- Description: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a global mental health concern, especially in low- resourced communities that are characterised by limited access to health professionals, limited healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to evidence-based mental healthcare at primary care level. Over the last decade, several psychological trauma-focused therapies (TFTs), such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) have been developed to treat PTSD. In the context of the existing literature, studies done in HICs have explored the implementation and acceptability of prolonged exposure therapy at primary care level (PE-PC) as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Contrary to this, there is little to no implementation studies done to date that have examined the acceptability of empirically supported treatments (ESTs), such as PE in low-resourced countries, such as South Africa. Using the Implementation Science framework, ten participants were recruited to be interviewed, using semi-structured interviews, about their experiences and perceptions of PE-PC as a treatment for PTSD, and to also share their experiences of living with PTSD. The interview data was analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) method to determine whether PE-PC is an acceptable treatment for PTSD that can be administered at community level and highlights the importance of integrating mental health within primary healthcare practice. Based on the analysis four superordinate themes were identified, namely, lack and absence of social support; factors preventing trauma survivors from accessing EBTs; lack of knowledge regarding mental health literacy, and adaptation of a brief trauma-focused therapy in a low-resource community. The evidence this study shows that some of the factors that hinder the acceptability of trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) at community level, include stigma and discrimination, the absence of social support, limited resources, and inadequate knowledge on mental health and illness. Therefore, it makes sense of the urgency to implement evidence-based treatments (EBTs) in LMICs. Findings of this thesis suggest that (a) PE-PC should be adopted at community level, and that (b) PE-PC is an acceptable treatment for PTSD in low-resourced communities. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
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