Study unearths high cases of post-traumatic stress disorder in Kisumu

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been identified as a leading mental illness in Kisumu County.

According to a three-year study conducted by the University of Nairobi (UoN) in collaboration with University of California San Francisco (UCSF), most of the cases involved intimate partners.

Prof Muthoni Mathai (UoN), a principal investigator in the study, said 60 percent of women examined during the study, had experienced intimate partner violence in a week.

“What this means is that six out of 10 women we examined during the week, had been abused by their partners a week before the investigation. This figure is extremely high since the national prevalence is 40 percent,” she said.

Prof Mathai (pictured) said so many people were suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in the area, calling for concerted efforts to reverse the tide. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), she affirmed, was behind a spike in the number of PTSD cases in the area.

“I join hands with women who have been protesting across the country against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). As a country, we need a U-turn on how we relate to each other across gender, within gender, and how we respect each other,” she said.

Prof Susan Meffert (UCSF), also  principal investigator in the study, said 2, 162 people were examined during the study, which identified Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depression (MD), as key areas of intervention.

The study dubbed ‘Smart Dapper’ identified evidence-based strategies, for first-line and second-line treatment, which was administered by non-specialists, trained by the programme.

Kisumu Medical Services executive Dr Gregory Ganda said the study was an eye opener on the state of mental health in the area.

Dr. Ganda said a good number of patients who visit health facilities in the area, are stressed and actually don’t know what ails them.