TY - JOUR
T1 - Political violence and mental health of Bedouin children in the West Bank, Palestine: A cross-sectional study.
AU - Massad, Salwa
AU - Khammash, Umaiyeh
AU - Shute, Rosalyn
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The Bedouin population is among the most vulnerable in Palestine, subject to forced relocation and lacking basic necessities, including water and electricity. To our knowledge, there are no studies on the mental health of Palestinian Bedouin children. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted examining exposures to traumatic events and mental health among 455 refugee children between the ages of 5–16 years old, and randomly selected from 18 Bedouin communities throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Mental health status was measured using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Based on reports by mothers, teachers and children, 44% of the participants in the study had a probable psychiatric disorder. Exposure to traumatic events, fair/poor maternal self-rated mental health, and younger age were positively associated with child mental health problems. The findings highlight the importance of maternal mental health as a contributing factor affecting children’s vulnerability. Bedouin mothers and their children need immediate psychosocial intervention, as well as the protection of their basic human rights.
AB - The Bedouin population is among the most vulnerable in Palestine, subject to forced relocation and lacking basic necessities, including water and electricity. To our knowledge, there are no studies on the mental health of Palestinian Bedouin children. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted examining exposures to traumatic events and mental health among 455 refugee children between the ages of 5–16 years old, and randomly selected from 18 Bedouin communities throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Mental health status was measured using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Based on reports by mothers, teachers and children, 44% of the participants in the study had a probable psychiatric disorder. Exposure to traumatic events, fair/poor maternal self-rated mental health, and younger age were positively associated with child mental health problems. The findings highlight the importance of maternal mental health as a contributing factor affecting children’s vulnerability. Bedouin mothers and their children need immediate psychosocial intervention, as well as the protection of their basic human rights.
KW - Children
KW - mental health
KW - Middle East
KW - Palestine
KW - violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85029449399&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13623699.2017.1368307
DO - 10.1080/13623699.2017.1368307
M3 - Article
VL - 33
SP - 188
EP - 206
JO - Medicine, Conflict and Survival
JF - Medicine, Conflict and Survival
SN - 1362-3699
IS - 3
ER -