Child: Care, Health and Development
Volume 45, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 28-35

Displaced Rohingya children at high risk for mental health problems: Findings from refugee camps within Bangladesh (Article) (Open Access)

Khan N.Z. , Shilpi A.B. , Sultana R. , Sarker S. , Razia S. , Roy B. , Arif A. , Ahmed M.U. , Saha S.C. , McConachie H.*
  • a Clinical Neurosciences Unit, Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • b Clinical Neurosciences Unit, Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • c Clinical Neurosciences Unit, Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • d Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, Dhaka Shishu (Children's) Hospital, Bangladesh
  • e Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, Dhaka Shishu (Children's) Hospital, Bangladesh
  • f Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, Dhaka Shishu (Children's) Hospital, Bangladesh
  • g Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, Dhaka Shishu (Children's) Hospital, Bangladesh
  • h Upazila Health Complex, Ukhia, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
  • i Department of Paediatrics, Cox's Bazar Medical College Hospital, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
  • j Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: The 2017 political violence against the Rohingya people in the state of Rakhine resulted in a large influx of displaced populations into Bangladesh. Given harsh conditions and experiences in Myanmar, and the harrowing journey to the border, raised levels of child neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and mental health problems were expected. Methods: A team of child development professionals, physicians, psychologists, and developmental therapists screened 622 children in clinics within the refugee camps using the Developmental Screening Questionnaire (DSQ; 0–<2 years), and the Ten Questions Plus (TQP) for NDDs, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; 2–16 years) for mental health problems. Any child positive on the DSQ or the TQP was assessed for NDDs. Results: Only 4.8% children aged 0–<2 years and 7.3% children aged >2–16 years screened positive for NDDs, comparable with a local Bangladesh population. However, 52% of children were in the abnormal range for emotional symptoms on the SDQ, and 25% abnormal for peer problems. Significant risk factors were being parentless and having lost one or more family members in the recent crisis. Conclusions: This screening study provides objective evidence of the urgent need for psychosocial support of Rohingya children within camps, with special attention to those without parents, including monitoring of their well-being and counselling of families and other care providers. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Author Keywords

Mental health Screening neurodevelopmental disorders Child refugees

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055679108&doi=10.1111%2fcch.12623&partnerID=40&md5=2bc888c394a94033a1aec028dd56c89e
DOI: 10.1111/cch.12623
ISSN: 03051862
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English