Stress and Health of Internally Displaced Female Yezidis in Northern Iraq

AbstractBurden and vulnerability factors after the genocide by ISIS accumulate to a high risk of health for displaced Yezidi women having survived or escaped the “ISIS” persecutions and massacres 2014. In May 2017, standardized interviews, including tests for the acquisition of healthrelated quality of life (SF12), stress (PSS10) and experienced trauma were performed with 29 and a medical anamnesis with 10 displaced female Yezidi in camps for internally displaced people (IDP) and unofficial settlements in Northern Iraq. 58, 62% stated their general health as “poor”, 17.24% each as “fair” or “good” and 3.45% each as “very good” or “excellent”. In the assessment of health-related quality of life, physical as well as mental health showed significantly reduced values, while simultaneously a high level of stress was recorded. 79.3% reported about having experienced at least one traumatic event. Chronic stress due to living conditions and traumatization is most likely responsible for the recorded poor health.
Source: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research