Assessment of Psychological Aspects among Refugees in Kurdistan Region-Iraq Refugee Camps

Abstract

Background and objectives: Syria's civil war has received the highest refugee crisis of the twenty-first century. As a result of their exposure to conflict, violence, and post-displacement stresses, Syrian refugees living in refugee camps in Kurdistan are at a greater risk of developing common mental illnesses. This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among Syrian refugees residing in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted in refugee camps in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok in the Kurdistan region of Iraq from 1st September 20021 to 1st June 2022. Convenient sampling was used to collect 400 participants, and the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire was used to measure the level of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Results: The average age of participants was 37 ± 12.14 years; 71.8% were married, 53.3% had a smoking history, 92.2% were from Syria, and the average refugee duration was 9 ± 1.32 years. During the refugee process, 79.3% of refugees had a low socio-economic position, 34.0% had anxiety, 23.1% had stress, 47.5% were depressed. There is a statistical association between gender and stress levels based on a p-value of 0.004 and between smoking history and stress with a p-value of 0.006.
Conclusion: According to the findings, most refugees suffer from extreme depression, moderate anxiety, and severe stress. Further studies are required by competent authorities to overcome mental health disorders among refugees.