Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Psychological impact of life as refugees: a pilot study on a Syrian camp in Jordan

Basheti I A , Qunaibi E A, Malas R

Applied Sciences University, PO Box 940344, Amman, 11194, Jordan;

For correspondence:- Basheti A Email: dr_iman@asu.edu.jo Tel:+962799048003

Received: 1 July 2014 Accepted: 29 June 2015 Published: 29 September 2015

Citation: A BI, A QE, R M. Psychological impact of life as refugees: a pilot study on a Syrian camp in Jordan. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(9):1695-1701 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i9.22

© 2015 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate types and prevalence of psychological distresses endured by Syrian refugees at Alzatary Camp in Jordan.

Methods: This observational study was conducted over a period of 2 months (November and December, 2012) at Alzatary Camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. A validated questionnaire was filled by a field researcher to gather information on respondents’ living conditions, psychological distresses and perspectives of the medical care services provided.

Results: The questionnaire was completed for 73 respondents with a mean age of 37.7 ± 11.2. A majority of refugees (63.3 %) lived in tents, and the rest in caravans. Some of the respondents (56 %) suffered from psychological distresses; 46 % believed that psychological therapy and support is needed, out of which 14.5 % reported receiving such therapy. Refugees staying in tents reported low satisfaction with the medical care services provided (54.2 % vs. 23.8 %) and great need for psychological support (66.7 % vs. 31.3 %) when compared to refugees staying in caravans.

Conclusion: Syrian refugees at Alzatary Camp suffer from psychological distress that requires urgent attention. Current medical support is not sufficient, especially for refugees staying in tents.

Keywords: Syrian refugees, Jordan camps, Alzatary Camp, Psychological disorders, Mental health