Prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder in primary school children in baghdad 2006

Background: The presents situation in Iraq is dominated by violence, looting, kidnapping, torture, or murder. This had created an extremely threatening and traumatizing atmosphere for the whole population and especially children. Objectives: To determine the PTSD among primary school children in Baghdad. Method and Sampling: Across sectional multi stages sample survey of 600 respondent aged 6-15 years had been contacted in Baghdad during Jan and Feb.2006, sixteen schools were involved with 37-38 children represent each school. Tool: Arabic version of MINI (international neuro psychiatric interview PTSD module 1 was applied. Results: During the last 2 years 47% of the respondents had experienced major traumatic event. The prevalence of PTSD among school children was 14%. The male\female ratio was 1\3 which was statistically significant. Conclusion: The traumatizing events were very common and had precipitated PTSD in 14% of children the prevalence was less tan expected which may suggest that Iraqis had adapted some sort of psychological immunization through the last 3 successive stressful and traumatizing decades. The study warrants exceptional efforts to re-stabilize the situation in order to avoid wide spread of morbidity and disability among children.