Abstract
Introduction: There are several epidemiological studies regarding the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children exposed to natural disasters.
Objective: To describe the prevalence of PTSD in a school-age population in a coastal town from the Maule Region, 8 months after the earthquake/tsunami in February 2010, and to compare differences among PTSD groups of symptom (re-experiencing, avoidance and activation) according to demographic variables such as age, grade, gender and family type.
Methodology: The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), validated in Chile in 2009, was used in 89 children between 3rd and 6th grade, corresponding to 94.7% of the children enrolled in the local school in such classes. Data are analyzed by gender, age, grade and type of family. 89 surveys were applied, 59.6% were male and 40.4% female aged 8-13.
Results: 40.4% of children had symptoms consistent with PTSD, with higher incidence in women and younger children; the most significant association among women was age. Both groups (women and young children) presented the highest scores on all group of symptoms. There were no differences by type of family.
Conclusions: The incidence of PTSD measured by CPSS scale in the study population was 40.4%, considered to be among the highest percentages reported in the international literature.
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