Symptoms of common mental disorders and suicidality among female survivors of war related sexual and gender based violence in one stop centers of the Amhara region, Ethiopia: a multicenter cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study found that many women in Ethiopia who survived war-related sexual violence experience mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.

Contribution

The study provides new prevalence data on mental disorders and suicidality among SGBV survivors in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

Findings

61.7% of survivors showed symptoms of common mental disorders.

24.1% of survivors reported suicidality.

Factors like low income and family history of mental illness were linked to higher risks.

Abstract

Common mental disorders (CMDs) and suicidality are two of the most common psychological and mental health issues associated with acute and chronic sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of symptoms of CMDs, and suicidality among females experienced SGBV in Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 female survivors of SGBV in the One Stop Centers of the Amhara region. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. The odds ratio at a p-value of 0.05 was used to determine the strength of the association of the independent variables with CMDs and suicidality.

A total of 407 women participated in the study. Suicidality was reported by a quarter of the survivors (24.1%), while CMDs were reported by nearly two-thirds (61.7%). Being widowed (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI = 3.0 [1.22, 7.66]), having a family history of mental illnesses (AOR = 7.1, 95% CI = 7.1 [4.07, 12.39)], being low-income (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 2.8 [1.64, 5.06]), and current drug use (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 2.9 [1.63, 5.16]) were all linked with CMDs. Having a history of abortion (AOR = 4.1, 95% CI = 4.1 [1.9, 8.5]), CMDs (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI = 4.6 [2.0, 10.74]), and history of suicide (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 3.41 [1.22, 9.55]) were some of the characteristics that were substantially linked with suicidality.

Females with SGBV had a high prevalence of CMDs and suicidality and calls for comprehensive remedies.

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