NCJ Number
227343
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2009 Pages: 247-255
Date Published
April 2009
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined traumatic experiences in relation to neuropsychological and school performance in Sri Lankan school children who have lived through prolonged civil war and unrest.
Abstract
Results suggest that standardized diagnostic screening instruments can be adapted to local cultures in resource-poor countries and be reliably applied by trained local psychosocial workers or teachers. All teachers in this study reported having repeatedly experienced traumatic stress. With the revelation that a high number of children experience traumatizing events, it is not surprising that about 1 in 4 children suffers from PTSD. The results provide an exact and quantitative answer to the question of how well teachers are able to perform screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-morbid symptoms after a short and focused training session; in five of the six schools included in the survey, teachers achieved valid results. In a sixth school, the 100 percent PTSD-prevalence outcome was not valid. Post-hoc inquiry did not indicate that the corresponding teachers were not able to understand the application of the instrument; rather it seemed that political motivation had produced a significant bias. Adverse consequences of the traumatic experiences on mental health and normal development were disclosed. Data were collected as a randomized, epidemiological screening of children attending school; fifth grade children from 16 different primary schools were randomly chosen from all 5 administrative zones of the North Eastern Tamil Provinces of Sri Lanka for participation is this survey. Table, figures, and references