File(s) under permanent embargo
Depression and anxiety among war-widows of Nepal: a post-civil war cross-sectional study
journal contribution
posted on 2018-02-07, 00:00 authored by S Basnet, P Kandel, Prabhat LamichhaneThousands of Nepalese women were widowed as a consequence of a decade (1996–2006) long civil war in Nepal. These women are at grave risk of mental health problems due to both traumatic experiences and violation of natural order of widowhood. The present study explores the depression and anxiety among war-widows. In 2012, a cross-sectional study was designed to interview 358 war-widows using validitated Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory in four districts of Nepal–Bardiya, Surkhet, Sindhupalchowk and Kavrepalanchowk with history of high conflict intensity. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 53% and 63% respectively. Financial stress was significantly associated with depression (2.67, 95% CI: 1.40–5.07) and anxiety (2.37, 95% CI: 1.19–4.72). High autonomy of women as compared to low autonomy, high social support as compared to low social support and literacy as opposed to illiteracy was associated with less likelihood of depression and anxiety. Our results suggest high magnitude of depression and anxiety among war-widows in Nepal. Future policy efforts should be directed at providing mental health services to identify mental health issues among conflict affected individuals with focus on education, employment and activities to promote social support and autonomy at community.
History
Journal
Psychology, Health and MedicineVolume
23Issue
2Pagination
141 - 153Publisher DOI
ISSN
1354-8506Publication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, Informa UKUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthWar-widowswomenconflictdepressionanxietyNepalWHO: World Health OrganisationDALYs: Disability-adjusted life yearsPTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderBDI: Beck-Depression InventoryBAI: Beck Anxiety InventoryWHR: Women Health RightsDDC: District Development CommitteeSNV: Netherlands development organisationSIRF: Social Inclusion Research FundORs: Odds ratiosCIs: Confidence intervalsUnOR: Unadjusted odds ratiosAOR: Adjusted odds ratiosHGRF: Harka Gurung Research FellowshipSTRESSFUL LIFE EVENTSMENTAL-HEALTHARMED CONFLICTSOCIAL SUPPORTDISPLACED PERSONSVIOLENCEDISABILITYAUTONOMYCULTUREwar-widow
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC