Objective: To study levels of mental distress in a sample of Afghan mothers caring for children in two refugee camps in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Method: Cross-sectional survey of 297 consecutive mothers with young children, attending primary care centres, using a psychiatric screening instrument, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Results: One hundred and six (36%) of women in the sample screened positive for a common mental disorder. Ninety-six (91%) of those screening positive had had suicidal thoughts in the previous month, and nine (8%) rated suicidal feeling as their topmost concern. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence and severity of mental distress in Afghan mothers caring for young children in refugee camps. This may have serious long-term effects on the psychological and physical development of their children.

Suicide Women Depression Mental health War Refugees Afghanistan Child care

Pakistan Afghanistan primary medical care refugee mental health service mass screening Emotions human Refugees psychologic assessment controlled study priority journal Suicide, Attempted screening test Mental Disorders Cross-Sectional Studies mental disease Humans female Personality Inventory questionnaire Mothers Article suicidal behavior major clinical study adult sample size primary health care Suicide health survey