Psychological consequences of war trauma and postwar social stressors in women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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AIM: To assess the consequences of psychotrauma in civilian women in Herzegovina who were exposed to prolonged and repetitive traumatic war events and postwar social stressors. METHODS: The study included a cluster sample of 367 adult women, divided into two groups. One group (n=187) comprised women from West Mostar who were exposed to serious war and posttraumatic war events. The other group (n=180) comprised women from urban areas in Western Herzegovina who were not directly exposed to war destruction and material losses, but experienced war indirectly, through military drafting of their family members and friends. Demographic data on the women were collected by a questionnaire created for the purpose of this study. Data on trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were collected by Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ)--Bosnia-Herzegovina version. General psychological symptoms were determined with Symptom Check List-90-revised (SCL-90-R). Data on postwar stressors were collected by a separate questionnaire. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, women from Western Mostar experienced significantly more traumatic events (mean+/-standard deviation [SD], 3.3+/-3.2 vs 10.1+/-4.9, respectively, t=15.91; P<0.001) and had more posttraumatic symptoms (12.3+/-10.3 vs 21.2+/-10.9, respectively, t=8.42; P<0.001). They also had significantly higher prevalence of PTSD (4.4% vs 28.3%, respectively; chi(2)=52.56; P<0.001). The number of traumatic events experienced during the war was positively associated with postwar stressful events both in the West Mostar group (r=0.223; P=0.002) and control group (r=0.276; P<0.001). Postwar stressful events contributed both to the number and intensity of PTSD symptoms and all general psychological symptoms measured with SCL-90 questionnaire, independently from the number of experienced traumatic war events. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to war and postwar stressors caused serious psychological consequences in civilian women, with PTSD being only one of the disorders in the wide spectrum of posttraumatic reactions. Postwar stressors did not influence the prevalence of PTSD but they did contribute to the intensity and number of posttraumatic symptoms. (+info)
The staying power of pain. A comparison of torture survivors from Bosnia and Colombia and their rates of anxiety, depression and PTSD.
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The article describes symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD among Bosnian (n=17) and Colombian (n=17) torture survivors served by the Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, a programme of Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc. Information from clients enrolled in the programme for six months or more was collated over a 14 month period in order to better prioritize and design services for the two distinct populations. On average, the Bosnians in this sample experienced torture approximately 14 years ago while the Colombians'experience was approximately six years ago. Types of torture experienced by clients are documented using HURIDOCS and the number of family and friends affected by extreme trauma are counted. Employment and education levels attained are also identified. Findings show that 100% of Bosnians are symptomatic for depression and over half possess symptoms of PTSD compared to 35% of Colombians for depression and 18% for PTSD, despite the differences in years since trauma occurred. High incidences of torture experienced by Bosnian clients and high numbers of family and friends affected support the high rates of symptoms. For the Colombian clients, high rates of employment and years of education, as well as earlier intervention, may contribute to their lower rates of symptoms. The two client groups are distinguished by the unique circumstances experienced by each, including punctuated wartime versus a prolonged insurgency, as well as the refugee versus asylum seeker experience. This exploratory project informs the torture treatment model while recognizing the importance of ethnic, political and cultural perspectives affecting the healing process. (+info)
Success rates of nuclear short tandem repeat typing from different skeletal elements.
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AIM: To evaluate trends in DNA typing success rates of different skeletal elements from mass graves originating from conflicts that occurred in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo) during the 1990s, and to establish correlation between skeletal sample age and success of high throughput short tandem repeat (STR) typing in the large data set of the International Commission on Missing Persons. METHOD: DNA extraction and short tandem repeat (STR) typing have been attempted on over 25000 skeletal samples. The skeletal samples originated from different geographical locations where the conflicts occurred and from different time periods from 1992 to 1999. DNA preservation in these samples was highly variable, but was often significantly degraded and of limited quantity. For the purpose of this study, processed samples were categorized according to skeletal sample type, sample age since death, and success rates tabulated. RESULTS: Well-defined general trends in success rates of DNA analyses were observed with respect to the type of bone tested and sample age. The highest success rates were observed with samples from dense cortical bone of weight-bearing leg bones (femur 86.9%), whereas long bones of the arms showed significantly lower success (humerus 46.2%, radius 24.5%, ulna 22.8%). Intact teeth also exhibited high success rates (teeth 82.7%). DNA isolation from other skeletal elements differed considerably in success, making bone sample selection an important factor influencing success. CONCLUSION: The success of DNA typing is related to the type of skeletal sample. By carefully evaluating skeletal material available for forensic DNA testing with regard to sample age and type of skeletal element available, it is possible to increase the success and efficiency of forensic DNA testing. (+info)
Variant alleles, triallelic patterns, and point mutations observed in nuclear short tandem repeat typing of populations in Bosnia and Serbia.
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AIM: To present a compendium of off-ladder alleles and other genotyping irregularities relating to rare/unexpected population genetic variation, observed in a large short tandem repeat (STR) database from Bosnia and Serbia. METHODS: DNA was extracted from blood stain cards relating to reference samples from a population of 32800 individuals from Bosnia and Serbia, and typed using Promega's PowerPlex16 STR kit. RESULTS: There were 31 distinct off-ladder alleles were observed in 10 of the 15 STR loci amplified from the PowerPlex16 STR kit. Of these 31, 3 have not been previously reported. Furthermore, 16 instances of triallelic patterns were observed in 9 of the 15 loci. Primer binding site mismatches that affected amplification were observed in two loci, D5S818 and D8S1179. CONCLUSION: Instances of deviations from manufacturer's allelic ladders should be expected and caution taken to properly designate the correct alleles in large DNA databases. Particular care should be taken in kinship matching or paternity cases as incorrect designation of any of these deviations from allelic ladders could lead to false exclusions. (+info)
Comparison of chemical composition and free radical scavenging ability of glycosidically bound and free volatiles from Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii Christ. var. leucodermis).
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The results obtained show that Bosnian pine is rich in glycosidically bound volatile compounds with strong free radical scavenging properties. Since volatiles can be released from nonvolatile glycoside precursors, these compounds can be considered as a hidden potential source of antioxidant substances and may contribute to the total free radical scavenging ability of Bosnian pine. (+info)
Global pattern formation and ethnic/cultural violence.
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We identify a process of global pattern formation that causes regions to differentiate by culture. Violence arises at boundaries between regions that are not sufficiently well defined. We model cultural differentiation as a separation of groups whose members prefer similar neighbors, with a characteristic group size at which violence occurs. Application of this model to the area of the former Yugoslavia and to India accurately predicts the locations of reported conflict. This model also points to imposed mixing or boundary clarification as mechanisms for promoting peace. (+info)
Discontent with financial situation, self-rated health, and well-being of adolescents in Bosnia and Herzegovina: cross-sectional study in Tuzla Canton.
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AIM: To examine the relationship between quality of life, self-rated health, and well-being and to establish the relationship between discontent with familial financial situation and health in adolescents living in the Tuzla Canton. METHOD: The study comprised a random sample of 356 high school students aged 16, coming from 15 different classes of 16 high schools in the Tuzla municipality. Data were obtained using a validated self-reporting questionnaire on demographic and socioeconomic background, structure, and dynamics of the adolescent's family, life-style, perception, and satisfaction with the financial situation and current health status, as well as social relationships and health care provided in school settings. RESULTS: In 11% (n=40) of students' households several poverty indicators were present. Twenty three percent (n=82) of the examinees were dissatisfied with the financial situation in their families, and 73% of them came from local, non-refugee families. They presented with progressive symptoms of unhappiness and expressed discontent with their health condition, and even self-hate in comparison with adolescents who were satisfied with the financial situation in their families (chi(2)=21.5; P=0.001). The prevalence of self-rated mental symptoms was significantly lower among adolescents who were satisfied with their financial situation than in those who were dissatisfied (symptoms of depression 57/274 vs 40/82, P=0.001; sadness 73/274 vs 45/82, P=0.001; moroseness 34/274 vs 19/82, P=0.001; under-sedation 29/274 vs 18/82, P=0.001; bad marks and school failures 31/274 vs 20/82, P=0.001; suicidal attempts 11/274 vs 7/82, P=0.001, respectively). Using linear regression analysis we found that adolescents' satisfaction with the financial situation was a major factor predicting depression (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.158-1.855), loss of appetite (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.561-1.235), distraction (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.837-1.154), unhappiness (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.686-1.405), and inability to perform at school as expected (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.903-1.581). CONCLUSION: Discontent with the financial situation significantly reduces the quality of mental health, leads to inappropriate patterns of behavior, and endangers future perspectives and well-being of adolescents. (+info)
Role of poultry meat in sporadic Campylobacter infections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: laboratory-based study.
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AIM: To investigate genetic diversity and specificity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains isolated from humans, retail poultry meat, and live farm chickens in Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and identify the role of poultry meat in sporadic Campylobacter infections. METHODS: We determined the type of Campylobacter species using standard microbiological methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and performed pulsed field gel-electrophoresis (PFGE) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing of the flaA gene to investigate genetic diversity among the isolates. RESULTS: We isolated C jejuni and C coli from 75 (5.2%) of 1453 samples of consecutive outpatients with sporadic diarrhea; from 51 (34.7%) of 147 samples of poultry meat; and from 15 out of 23 farm chicken samples. The proportion of C coli found among human (30.1%), poultry meat (56.9%), and farm chicken isolates (53.3%), was greater than the proportion of C jejuni. Fourteen and 24 PFGE genotypes were identified among 20 C coli and 37 C jejuni isolates, respectively. Identical PFGE genotypes were found in two cases of human and poultry meat isolates and two cases of poultry meat and farm chicken isolates. CONCLUSION: Only a minority of human Campylobacter isolates shared identical PFGE type with poultry meat isolates. Although poultry is the source of a certain number of human infections, there may be other more important sources. Further research is required to identify the environmental reservoir of Campylobacter spp responsible for causing human disease and the reason for the high prevalence of C coli human infections in this region. (+info)