Gender-based violence and its association with mental health among Somali women in a Kenyan refugee camp: A latent class analysis

Authors

Mazeda Hossain
Rachel Pearson
Alys McAlpine
Loraine Bacchus
Jo Spangaro, University of WollongongFollow
Stella K. Muthuri
Sheru Muuo
Giorgia Franchi
Tim Hess
Martin Bangha
Chimaraoke Izugbara

RIS ID

146544

Publication Details

Hossain, M., Pearson, R. J., McAlpine, A., Bacchus, L. J., Spangaro, J., Muthuri, S., Muuo, S., Franchi, G., Hess, T., Bangha, M. & Izugbara, C. (2020). Gender-based violence and its association with mental health among Somali women in a Kenyan refugee camp: A latent class analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health,

Abstract

Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. Background: In conflict-affected settings, women and girls are vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV). GBV is associated with poor long-term mental health such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the interaction between current violence and past conflict-related violence with ongoing mental health is essential for improving mental health service provision in refugee camps. Methods: Using data collected from 209 women attending GBV case management centres in the Dadaab refugee camps, Kenya, we grouped women by recent experience of GBV using latent class analysis and modelled the relationship between the groups and symptomatic scores for anxiety, depression and PTSD using linear regression. Results: Women with past-year experience of intimate partner violence alone may have a higher risk of depression than women with past-year experience of non-partner violence alone (Coef. 1.68, 95% CI 0.25 to 3.11). Conflict-related violence was an important risk factor for poor mental health among women who accessed GBV services, despite time since occurrence (average time in camp was 11.5 years) and even for those with a past-year experience of GBV (Anxiety: 3.48, 1.85-5.10; Depression: 2.26, 0.51-4.02; PTSD: 6.83, 4.21-9.44). Conclusion: Refugee women who experienced past-year intimate partner violence or conflict-related violence may be at increased risk of depression, anxiety or PTSD. Service providers should be aware that compared to the general refugee population, women who have experienced violence may require additional psychological support and recognise the enduring impact of violence that occurred before, during and after periods of conflict and tailor outreach and treatment services accordingly.