Traumatic Experiences of War Surviving Children Residing in Mekelle Saba Kare Internally Displaced Center

Abstract

This study examined the traumatic experiences of war surviving children residing in Mekelle’s Seba Kara internally displaced center, focusing on the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, associated factors, and resilience promoting factors. Employing a concurrent mixed method design, the research achieved a high response rate of 94.4% among 180 participants, including 85 children, 85 caregivers, and 12 professionals. The study focused on children aged 5 to 10. Simple random sampling was used to select both the children and their caregivers, while convenience sampling was used to select the professional participants. Data were gathered using validated PTSD and resilience measures, showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha values between .725 and .873). Findings showed a significant prevalence of PTSD, with 42.4% of children exhibiting severe symptoms. Major associated factors for PTSD included forced displacement, separation from parents, direct exposure to combat, and conditions of extreme poverty. However, resilience factors, such as supportive family relationships, community solidarity, and access to essential social resources, were critical in fostering resilience and protecting psychological distress. This study emphasized the crucial need for trauma-informed interventions and policies tailored to the unique needs of war affected children, supporting psychological recovery, healing and promoting long-term well-being in post-war Tigray.