Abstract
Introduction: Physical disability, especially in childhood and adolescence can cause major psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. Burden of landmine in western border cities of Iran caused many disabled survivors through the years after Iran-Iraq war. Aims: To investigate the potential association of disability of activities of daily living and symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents’ affected of post war landmine in Iran. Methods: This study employed two questionnaires for 35 adolescents’ survivors of mine explosions; the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms was examined using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) was measured by the Barthel index questionnaire. In addition, the association between anxiety and depression with demographic characteristics and activities of daily living was estimated. Results: Maximum independency was in activities of feeding, bowels, bathing and grooming while highest dependency was in activities of mobility, stairs and dressing. All of the cases have shown depression and the prevalence of anxiety was 31 (88.6%). An analysis of the data reveals significant association between activities of daily living included dressing, feeding, grooming and bathing with depression and anxiety (p<0.05). Although eye injured cases had the most complete independency (50%) in ADL but a significant direct relation was observed between eye impairment and depression (p=0.050). Conclusion: Overall, the study suggested that adolescents with physical disability due to landmine explosion may be suffering from depression and anxiety.
Highlights
Mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) is threatening the lives of civilians in more than seventy countries (NRA, 2010)
The results showed that the mean scores of anxiety, depression and total HSCL was significantly higher than normal Iranian population (p
In evaluating the relationship between each of activities of daily living with depression and anxiety, dressing, feeding, grooming and bathing were significantly associated with these mental problems (Table 3)
Summary
Mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) is threatening the lives of civilians in more than seventy countries (NRA, 2010). Some of them have been dealing with this problem for decades. Antipersonnel landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) pose significant and indiscriminate risks to the civilians and is an obstacle to peaceful governance. For the civilians and communities in war-affected countries the presence of these ERWs represents an ongoing threat. In spite of the international agreement that bans anti-personnel mine in the Mine Ban Treaty which signed by many countries in 1997, mine explosions are getting victims every day (UN Mine ban treaty text, 1997). Most victims are adult men, children by smaller size are more likely to die or suffer blindness, deafness, serious injuries and burns from ERW blast. Child survivors need the considerable social and economic supports and rely on others to carry out common daily activities
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