METHODS: We will conduct a longitudinal, observational study of 250 children aged 8-16 years and their caregivers in South Africa, following child exposure to acute trauma. Dyads will be recruited from community hospitals following a potentially traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident or assault. Potential participants will be identified during their hospital visit, and if they agree, will subsequently be contacted by study researchers. Assessments will take place within 4 weeks of the traumatic event, with 3-month and 6-month follow-up assessments. Participants will provide a narrative description of the traumatic event and complete questionnaires designed to give information about social and psychological risk factors. Child PTSD symptoms will be the primary outcome, and wider trauma-related mental health (depression, anxiety, behavioural problems) will be secondary outcomes. Regression-based methods will be used to examine the association of psychosocial factors in the acute phase following trauma, including caregiver support and responding, with child PTSD and wider mental health outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Ethical approvals have been granted by Stellenbosch University and the University of Bath, with additional approvals to recruit via hospitals and healthcare clinics being granted by the University of Cape Town, the Department of Health and the City of Cape Town. Study findings will be disseminated via publication in journals, workshops for practitioners and policy-makers, and public engagement events.
方法:我们将进行纵向,南非250名8-16岁儿童及其照顾者的观察性研究,儿童暴露于急性创伤后。Dyads将在潜在的创伤事件后从社区医院招募,例如机动车事故或袭击。潜在的参与者将在他们的医院访问期间确定,如果他们同意,随后将由研究人员联系。评估将在创伤事件发生后4周内进行,3个月和6个月的随访评估。参与者将提供创伤事件的叙述性描述,并提供旨在提供有关社会和心理风险因素的信息的完整问卷。儿童PTSD症状将是主要结果,和更广泛的创伤相关的心理健康(抑郁症,焦虑,行为问题)将是次要结果。基于回归的方法将用于检查创伤后急性期的社会心理因素的关联,包括护理人员支持和响应,儿童创伤后应激障碍和更广泛的心理健康结果。
背景:斯泰伦博斯大学和巴斯大学已获得道德批准,开普敦大学批准了通过医院和医疗诊所招募人员的额外批准,卫生部和开普敦市。研究结果将通过发表在期刊上传播,为从业者和决策者举办的讲习班,和公众参与活动。