The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47946

Astier M. Almedom, MA, DPhil, Biology Department and Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Barnum Hall, 165 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, 617 627 3249, astier-m.almedom@tufts.edu and Zemui Alemu, Dr, Director, Primary Health Care Division, Ministry of Health, State of Eritrea, P.O.Box 2012, Asmara, Eritrea.

This paper presents the findings of Phase I of a study of maternal mental wellbeing in a complex humanitarian emergency settings, Eritrea. The study aims to test the hypothesis that cultural practices around childbirth and social support for new mothers serve to mitigate mental health problems, including post-partum depression. participatory action research methods and tools are employed to investigate the context. The primary aim of Phase I of the study is to find out local terminology and classification of mental illness for the purpose of designing and modifying/adapting a culturally appropriate set of research instruments for examining the mechanisms whereby social factors mitigate mental illness in complex humanitarian emergency settings. Simultaneously, mechanisms of involving women, men and children (members of the study population) in participatory action research are tested and fine-tuned to bring about awareness of mental ill health in the community. At the health policy and practice level, a multi-agency and inter-sectoral "advisory group" has been formed at the outset in order to ensure appropriate utilization of research findings by key stakeholders and policymakers. preliminary findings indicate that even in times of crises, mild/moderate forms of anxiety and depression can be prevented by supporting existing structures of social organization to maintain the social fabric of affected communities. In the case of displaced populations, government-supported timely evacuation of target villages (during the recent war between Eritrea and Ethiopia) succeeded in keeping villagers and their leaders/administrators together, thereby preventing major psychosocial trauma. The case of expectant and newly delivered mothers and indidences of post-partum depression are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, the participant (learner) will be expected to
• recognize the role of social support in mitigating mental health problems
• identify specific mechanisms whereby social factors are linked with mental wellbeing, particularly in vulnerable groups such as expectant and newly delivered mothers
• discuss the relevance of the study findings to mental health policy and practice to countries experiencing protracted/chronic emergencies (such as Eritrea) as well as post September 11 America.

Keywords: Adult and Child Mental Health, Refugees

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: "Henry R. Luce Program in Science and Humanitariansim" at Tufts University and "Eritrean government Ministry of Health"
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.