PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF COMMON MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG INTERNALLY DISPLACED ADOLESCENTS AND NON-DISPLACED ADOLESCENT STUDENTS IN MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Abstract

Background: After over two decades of dispute in Somalia, there is still not yet political stability. There are ongoing terrorist attacks in Mogadishu, Somalia which continues to negatively affect the population. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced with inadequate access to basic health care, education and social services. The children and adolescents in this environment are exposed to traumatic events and violence. This exposure is said to be associated with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and a greater risk of substance use. There is no existing data on the prevalence or pattern of common mental disorders among adolescents in IDPs camps in Mogadishu, Somalia. The study aims to compare the prevalence and correlates of common mental disorders among adolescents in IDP camps with adolescents living in the community in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology: A comparative cross sectional design was utilized for the study in four secondary schools and four IDP camps. Three hundred and twenty participants were recruited in the study (160 in-school living at home with parents and 160 in-IDP camp). The Multistage sampling technique was used to select the participants. Study instruments utilized were a socio-demographic questionnaire, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences version 24 (SPSS-24). Descriptive statistics such as proportions and percentages were used to present data. Chi-square were also used to test associations at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of common mental disorders was higher among adolescents living in IDP camps with 51.9% and 28.8% for depression and PTSD respectively as compared to adolescents living in the community with their parents attending school with 28.8% and 8.8% for depression and PTSD respectively. The study found gender (p=0.026), age (p=0.034), perceived relationship with parents (p<0.0001) and exposure to traumatic events during childhood (p<0.0001) to be significantly associated with mental disorders. The study found a significant association between living in IDP camps (p<0.0001) and development of common mental disorders. Conclusion: The prevalence of common mental disorders was higher among adolescents living in IDP camps than among adolescents living in the community with their parents. It also found that factors such as exposure to traumatic events were significantly associated with development of mental health problems among the adolescents.