Previous Violent Events and Mental Health Outcomes in Guatemala.

Objectives. We analyzed a probability sample of Guatemalans to determine if a relationship exists between previous violent events and development of mental health outcomes in various sociodemographic groups, as well as during and after the Guatemalan Civil War. Methods. We used regression modeling,...

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Published in:American Journal of Public Health Vol. 105; no. 4; pp. 764 - 772
Main Authors: Puac-Polanco, Victor D., Lopez-Soto, Victor A., Kohn, Robert, Dawei Xie, Richmond, Therese S., Branas, Charles C.
Format: Journal Article
Published: American Public Health Association Apr2015
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr2015
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      pub: American Public Health Association
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        10.2105/AJPH.2014.302328
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        atl: Previous Violent Events and Mental Health Outcomes in Guatemala.
      aug:
        au:
          Puac-Polanco, Victor D.
          Lopez-Soto, Victor A.
          Kohn, Robert
          Dawei Xie
          Richmond, Therese S.
          Branas, Charles C.
      su:
        Guatemala
        Alcoholism risk factors
        Mental depression risk factors
        Mental illness risk factors
        Post-traumatic stress disorder
        History of war
        History of violence
        Violence
        Indigenous peoples
        Interviewing
        Sex distribution
        City dwellers
        Socioeconomic factors
        Cross-sectional method
        Anxiety risk factors
        Cluster analysis (Statistics)
        Confidence intervals
        Statistical correlation
        Maps
        Questionnaires
        Research funding
        Statistical sampling
        Logistic regression analysis
        Environmental exposure
        Predictive validity
        Disease prevalence
        Statistical models
        Descriptive statistics
        Odds ratio
      sug:
        subj:
          Alcoholism risk factors
          Mental depression risk factors
          Mental illness risk factors
          Post-traumatic stress disorder
          History of war
          History of violence
          Violence
          Indigenous peoples
          Interviewing
          Sex distribution
          City dwellers
          Socioeconomic factors
          Cross-sectional method
          Guatemala
          Other printing
          Book, Periodical, and Newspaper Merchant Wholesalers
          Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
          Anxiety risk factors
          Cluster analysis (Statistics)
          Confidence intervals
          Statistical correlation
          Maps
          Questionnaires
          Research funding
          Statistical sampling
          Logistic regression analysis
          Environmental exposure
          Predictive validity
          Disease prevalence
          Statistical models
          Descriptive statistics
          Odds ratio
      ab: Objectives. We analyzed a probability sample of Guatemalans to determine if a relationship exists between previous violent events and development of mental health outcomes in various sociodemographic groups, as well as during and after the Guatemalan Civil War. Methods. We used regression modeling, an interaction test, and complex survey design adjustments to estimate prevalences and test potential relationships between previous violent events and mental health. Results. Many (20.6%) participants experienced at least 1 previous serious violent event. Witnessing someone severely injured or killed was the most common event. Depression was experienced by 4.2% of participants, with 6.5% experiencing anxiety, 6.4% an alcohol-related disorder, and 1.9% posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Persons who experienced violence during the war had 4.3 times the adjusted odds of alcohol-related disorders (P < .05) and 4.0 times the adjusted odds of PTSD (P < .05) compared with the postwar period. Women, indigenous Maya, and urban dwellers had greater odds of experiencing postviolence mental health outcomes. Conclusions. Violence that began during the civil war and continues today has had a significant effect on the mental health of Guatemalans. However, mental health outcomes resulting from violent events decreased in the postwar period, suggesting a nation in recovery.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      src: R
    language: English
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