Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T17:22:32.019Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mental Health and Psychosocial Problems and Needs of Violence Survivors in the Colombian Pacific Coast: A Qualitative Study in Buenaventura and Quibdó

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2018

Julián Santaella-Tenorio Open the ORCID record for Julián Santaella-Tenorio [Opens in a new window] ,
Francisco J. Bonilla-Escobar ,
Luis Nieto-Gil ,
Andrés Fandiño-Losada ,
María I. Gutiérrez-Martínez ,
Judy Bass  and
Paul Bolton
Julián Santaella-Tenorio*
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New YorkUSA Instituto Cisalva, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
Francisco J. Bonilla-Escobar
Affiliation:
Instituto Cisalva, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
Luis Nieto-Gil
Affiliation:
Secretaría de Educación de Cali, Colombia
Andrés Fandiño-Losada
Affiliation:
Instituto Cisalva, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
María I. Gutiérrez-Martínez
Affiliation:
Instituto Cisalva, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
Judy Bass
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandUSA
Paul Bolton
Affiliation:
Departments of International Health and Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandUSA
*
Correspondence: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, MSc Epidemiology Department Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University 722 W 168th St. New York, New York 10032 USA E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction/Problem

For more than 60 years, Colombia experienced an armed conflict involving government forces, guerrillas, and other illegal armed groups. Violence, including torture and massacres, has caused displacement of entire rural communities to urban areas. Lack of information on the problems displaced communities face and on their perceptions on potential solutions to these problems may prevent programs from delivering appropriate services to these communities. This study explores the problems of Afro-Colombian survivors from two major cities in Colombia; the activities they do to take care of themselves, their families, and their community; and possible solutions to these problems.

Methods

This was a qualitative, interview-based study conducted in Quibdó and Buenaventura (Colombia). Free-list interviews and focus groups explored the problems of survivors and the activities they do to take care of themselves, their families, and their community. Key-informant interviews explored details of the identified mental health problems and possible solutions.

Results

In Buenaventura, 24 free-list interviews, one focus group, and 17 key-informant interviews were completed. In Quibdó, 29 free-list interviews, one focus group, and 15 key-informant interviews were completed. Mental health problems identified included: (1) problems related to exposure to torture/violent events; (2) problems with adaptation to the new social context; and (3) problems related to current poverty, lack of employment, and ongoing violence. These problems were similar to trauma symptoms and features of depression and anxiety, as described in other populations. Solutions included psychological help, talking to friends/family, relying on God’s help, and getting trained in different task or jobs.

Conclusion:

Afro-Colombian survivors of torture and violence described mental health problems similar to those of other trauma-affected populations. These results suggest that existing interventions that address trauma-related symptoms and current ongoing stressors may be appropriate for improving the mental health of survivors in this population.

Santaella-TenorioJ, Bonilla-EscobarFJ, Nieto-GilL, Fandiño-LosadaA, Gutiérrez-MartínezMI, BassJ, BoltonP. Mental Health and Psychosocial Problems and Needs of Violence Survivors in the Colombian Pacific Coast: A Qualitative Study in Buenaventura and Quibdó. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(6):567–574.

Keywords

displacementpsychology socialqualitative researchtortureviolence
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 33 , Issue 6 , December 2018 , pp. 567 - 574
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Conflict of interest/funding: This study was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID; Washington, DC USA) Victims of Torture Fund, contract number AID-OAA-A-10-00046. The contents are the responsibility of the Cisalva Institute of Universidad del Valle (Colombia), Heartland Alliance International (Chicago, Illinois USA), and Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland USA) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. The funder did not take part of the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

1. Centro Nacional de Memoria Historica. “Los orígenes, las dinámicas y el crecimiento del conflicto armado.” In: Centro Nacional de Memoria Historica, eds. Basta ya! Colombia: Memorias de Guerra y Dignidad. Bogotá, Colombia: Imprenta Nacional; 2013. http://www.centrodememoriahistorica.gov.co/descargas/informes2013/bastaYa/BYColombiaMemoriasGuerraDignidadAgosto2014.pdf. Accessed February 6, 2017.Google Scholar
2. Ruta Pacífica, de las Mujeres, Comisión, de Verdad, y Memoria, de Mujeres Colombianas. “Capítulo 2. Consecuencias de las violaciones de derechos humanos en Colombia, Impactos en la vida de las mujeres.” In: Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres, eds. Informe: La Verdad de las Mujeres, Tomo I: Victimas del Conflicto Armado en Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia: G2 Editores; 2013: 79-219.Google Scholar
3. Reyes, PA. Guerreros y Campesinos. El Despojo de la Tierra en Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia: Grupo Editorial Norma; 2009.Google Scholar
4. Bolaños, EA. El último rastro de la masacre del Naya. El Espectador. January 6, 2011. http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/el-ultimo-rastro-de-masacre-del-naya-articulo-243667. Accessed July 20, 2017.Google Scholar
5. Neira, A. Agonía sin fin: 12 años de la masacre de Bojayá. Revista Semana. May 2, 2014. http://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/masacre-de-bojaya-12-anos-despues/385639-3. Accessed July 22, 2017.Google Scholar
6. Sanchez, G, Bello-Albarracín, MN, Riaño-Alcala, P, Pulido, BM, Orjuela-Villanueva, C, Chaparro-Pacheco, R. Grupo de Memoria Histórica. Bojayá: Guerra sin Límites. Bogotá, Colombia: Ediciones Semana, Taurus; 2010.Google Scholar
7. Unidad para la atención y reparación de las víctimas. Informes Departamentales de hechos victimizantes - Valle del Cauca - Chocó. http://rni.unidadvictimas.gov.co/?q=node/47. Accessed March 22, 2017.Google Scholar
8. Presidencia de la Republica de Colombia. Ley 1616 del 21 de enero de 2013. Artículo 6. http://wsp.presidencia.gov.co/Normativa/Leyes/Documents/2013/LEY 1616 DEL 21 DE ENERO DE 2013.pdf. Accessed July 24, 2017.Google Scholar
9. Gobierno de Colombia. Informe del Gobierno de Nacional a las Comisiones Primeras del Congreso de la República. Avances en la Ejecución de la Ley 1448 de 2011 II Semestre de 2013. Bogotá, Colombia: 2014. http://www.acnur.org/t3/uploads/media/2882_COI_Colombia_Informe_Comisiones_Primeras_Congreso_2014.pdf?view=1. Accessed March 12, 2017.Google Scholar
10. Portilla-Benavides, AC, Correa, C. Centro Internacional para la Justicia Transicional. Estudio sobre la implementación del Programa de Reparación Individual en Colombia. 2015. https://www.ictj.org/sites/default/files/ICTJ-COL-Estudio-reparacion-individual-2015.pdf. Accessed April 4, 2017.Google Scholar
11. Londoño, N MO, Correa, JE, Patiño, CD, et al. Mental health among victims of the armed conflict in Bojayá (Chocó, Colombia). Rev Col Psiqui. 2005;34(4):493-505.Google Scholar
12. Doctors Without Borders. Las heridas menos visibles: salud mental, violencia y conflicto armado en el sur de Colombia. https://www.msf.es/sites/default/files/legacy/adjuntos/Informe-Colombia_Junio-2013.pdf. Accessed August 29, 2017.Google Scholar
13. Bolton, P. Local perceptions of the mental health effects of the Rwandan genocide. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2001;189(4):243-248.Google Scholar
14. Bolton, P, Surkan, PJ, Gray, AE, Desmousseaux, M. The mental health and psychosocial effects of organized violence: a qualitative study in northern Haiti. Transcult Psychiatry. 2012;49(3-4):590-612.Google Scholar
15. Bolton, P, Tang, AM. An alternative approach to cross-cultural function assessment. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2002;37(11):537-543.Google Scholar
16. Bolton, P, Michalopoulos, L, Ahmed, AM, Murray, LK, Bass, J. The mental health and psychosocial problems of survivors of torture and genocide in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq: a brief qualitative study. Torture. 2013;23(1):1-14.Google Scholar
17. Betancourt, TS, Speelman, L, Onyango, G, Bolton, P. A qualitative study of mental health problems among children displaced by war in northern Uganda. Transcult Psychiatry. 2009;46(2):238-256.Google Scholar
18. Poudyal, B, Bass, J, Subyantoro, T, Jonathan, A, Erni, T, Bolton, P. Assessment of the psychosocial and mental health needs, dysfunction and coping mechanisms of violence affected populations in Bireuen Aceh. A qualitative study. Torture. 2009;19(3):218-226.Google Scholar
19. Bonilla-Escobar, F, Fandiño, A, Gutierrez, MA, et al. A randomized controlled trial of a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral intervention for Afro-descendants survivors of systemic violence in Colombia. Manuscript in preparation.Google Scholar
20. Pineda, DA, Guerrero, OL, Pinilla, ML, Estupinan, M. [Usefulness of a screening questionnaire for posttraumatic stress in a Colombian population]. Rev Neurol. 2002;34(10):911-916.Google Scholar
21. Cherewick, M, Kohli, A, Remy, MM, et al. Coping among trauma-affected youth: a qualitative study. Confl Health. 2015;9:35.Google Scholar
22. Murray, LK, Dorsey, S, Haroz, E, et al. A common elements treatment approach for adult mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries. Cogn Behav Pract. 2014;21(2):111-123.Google Scholar