Post-conflict acute stress reactions in Kazakhstan in the aftermath of January 2022 unrests: A national survey
Glushkova N. Ivankov A. Trenina V. Oshibayeva A. Kalmatayeva Z. Temirbekova Z. Mamyrbekova S. Davletov K. Khismetova Z. Kauysheva A. Auyezova A. Zhanaspayev M. Pivina L. Koshmaganbetova G. Nurbakyt A. Sarsenbayeva G. Sadibekova Z. Gazaliyeva M. Kulimbet M. Kalmatayeva D. Zhylkybekova A. Nurgaliyeva Z. Sultanbekov K. Semenov D. Izmailovich M. Tsigengagel O. Munir K.
November 2023Elsevier Ltd
Heliyon
2023#9Issue 11
Background: In January 2022 Kazakhstan experienced unprecedented nationwide protests that quickly turned to violent riots. Although the number of individuals affected physically by the disturbances were cited, the emotional toll of the events remains undetermined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative rates of acute stress reactions in Kazakhstan in the aftermath of the unrests. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based online survey was conducted one month after the start of the disturbances. The study questionnaire were completed anonymously and included the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), as well as socio-demographic and event exposure information. Results: Of the 7021 people who initially agreed to participate, 6510 were able to complete the full survey. For a cut-off of ≥3 on the PC-PTSD-5, 14.8 % of the study participants exhibited symptoms. With a cut-off of ≥4, this percentage reduced to 4.6 %. Participants from Almaty city and Almaty region who experienced the most extensive disturbances showed a doubled prevalence compared to the national level (30.0 % for a cut-off of ≥3, and 10.1 % for a cut-off of ≥4). At the national level, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms, defined as a score of ≥10 on the GAD-7, stood at 10.9 %. This prevalence decreased to 4.2 % when considering a cut-off of ≥15. Conclusion: Health authorities of riot-affected areas ought to be aware of the population level mental health impact of the civil conflict and consider provision of targeted interventions to mitigate the long-term consequence of these lifespan disorders, while also seeking for the peaceful resolution of the ensuing conflicts.
Acute stress reactions , Anxiety symptoms , Civil disturbances , Kazakhstan , Riots , Violence
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Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Medicine, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Independent Researcher, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Public Health, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Rector Office, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkestan, Kazakhstan
Academic Office, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Scientific Office, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Rector Office, Kazakhstan Medical University Higher School of Public Health, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Traumatology, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Internal Medicine, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Masters and Doctoral Studies, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Public Health, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Social Health Insurance and Public Health, South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, Shymkent, Kazakhstan
Dean Office of the School of Medicine, Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Astana IT University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Internal Diseases, Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Developmental Medicine Centre, Boston Childrens Hospital and Departments of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
Department of Epidemiology
Independent Researcher
Department of Public Health
Rector Office
Academic Office
Scientific Office
Rector Office
Department of Traumatology
Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Masters and Doctoral Studies
Department of Public Health
Department of Social Health Insurance and Public Health
Dean Office of the School of Medicine
Department of General Psychology
Astana IT University
Department of Internal Diseases
Developmental Medicine Centre
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