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Humanitarian disaster: mental health disorders at primary healthcare clinic
, 1, 2
Affiliations- Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Shah Alam, Malaysia
- Institute for Public Health, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam, Malaysia
open access
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the mental health of Rohingya refugees attending the Malaysian Field Hospital primary health clinic after arriving in Bangladesh. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of mental health disorders, somatic symptoms and to ascertain the determinants of mental health disorders among the Rohingya refugee community attending the primary health clinic.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, face-to-face interview using the DASS-21 Questionnaire was conducted among 180 random samples of patients from the Rohingya community. Symptoms of illnesses were recorded before giving the appropriate treatment. Data was collected to obtain the prevalence of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and to study the association and predictors of mental health disorders.
RESULTS: 70.6% of respondents reported having mental health disorders. 70% presented with anxiety and 51.6% had depression. Among the respondents with mental health disorders, 70.8% presented with somatic symptoms. Mental health disorders were associated with female gender, older age, formal education, unemployment, high number of households, being in Bangladesh one year or less, and presence of somatic symptoms. Being in Bangladesh one year or less (AOR, 11.73; 95% CI 3.38–40.71) and presence of somatic symptoms (AOR, 12.1; 95% CI: 4.02 to 36.44) were significant predictors of mental health disorders.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of mental health disorders among Rohingya refugees attending the primary health care clinic was high, and they presented with somatic symptoms.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the mental health of Rohingya refugees attending the Malaysian Field Hospital primary health clinic after arriving in Bangladesh. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of mental health disorders, somatic symptoms and to ascertain the determinants of mental health disorders among the Rohingya refugee community attending the primary health clinic.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, face-to-face interview using the DASS-21 Questionnaire was conducted among 180 random samples of patients from the Rohingya community. Symptoms of illnesses were recorded before giving the appropriate treatment. Data was collected to obtain the prevalence of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and to study the association and predictors of mental health disorders.
RESULTS: 70.6% of respondents reported having mental health disorders. 70% presented with anxiety and 51.6% had depression. Among the respondents with mental health disorders, 70.8% presented with somatic symptoms. Mental health disorders were associated with female gender, older age, formal education, unemployment, high number of households, being in Bangladesh one year or less, and presence of somatic symptoms. Being in Bangladesh one year or less (AOR, 11.73; 95% CI 3.38–40.71) and presence of somatic symptoms (AOR, 12.1; 95% CI: 4.02 to 36.44) were significant predictors of mental health disorders.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of mental health disorders among Rohingya refugees attending the primary health care clinic was high, and they presented with somatic symptoms.
Keywords
mental health disorders; primary health care; somatic symptoms
About this articleTitle
Humanitarian disaster: mental health disorders at primary healthcare clinic
Journal
Disaster and Emergency Medicine Journal
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
1-10
Published online
2022-03-18
Page views
4999
Article views/downloads
341
DOI
Bibliographic record
Disaster Emerg Med J 2022;7(1):1-10.
Keywords
mental health disorders
primary health care
somatic symptoms
Authors
Siti Salmiah Awang
Shaza Eva Mohamad
S. Maria Awaluddin
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