Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
Volume 17, Issue 2, 2005, Pages 93-98

Nutritional and mental health status of Afghan refugee children in Peshawar, Pakistan: A descriptive study (Article)

Izutsu T.* , Tsutsumi A. , Sato T. , Naqibullah Z. , Wakai S. , Kurita H.
  • a Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Chiba, Japan, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 1-7-3, Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-0827, Japan
  • b Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • c Miki Hospital, Saga, Japan
  • d Peshawar-kai Medical Services (PMS), Peshawar, Pakistan
  • e Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • f Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

The study sought to ascertain and describe the physical and mental health states of Afghan refugee children after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in the US and the aerial bombing of Afghanistan that followed. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in four refugee camps in Peshawar, Pakistan from February to March 2002, and comparisons among camps were made. A total of 70 males (mean age SD = 9.81 ±1.98 years old) and 30 females (7.94 ±2.07) answered a self-developed questionnaire on demographic data, traumatic events experience, living environment in the camps, and physical and mental health, through interviews. Anthropometric measures were measured and physical symptoms including anaemia and edema were assessed. Severe malnutrition was not shown and there were no significant differences in most nutritional and physical states among the camps. Nevertheless, in the newer camps more children experienced war related traumatic events. Mental symptoms were prevalent in all camps, though the characteristics of the symptoms differed among the camps.

Author Keywords

Pakistan Mental health nutrition Refugee Afghan refugee trauma

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-28844486685&doi=10.1177%2f101053950501700206&partnerID=40&md5=933cd44bd70ce56e20c4488d2a019016
DOI: 10.1177/101053950501700206
ISSN: 10105395
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English