Epidemiological Study on Mental Health Burden and Post-Conflict Trauma Disorders in Waberi District, Mogadishu

Decades of conflict have severely impacted Mogadishu, Somalia’s Waberi District, resulting in loss, relocation, and a significant risk of mental health issues. There is little information available locally regarding the prevalence and contributing factors of trauma-related disorders. Using systematic random sampling, a cross-sectional survey of 384 persons was carried out. Standardised instruments (GAD-7 for anxiety, PHQ-9 for depression, and HTQ for PTSD) were used. Regression models and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.
Conflict exposure was widespread : 80.7% lost property, 67.7% lost a family member, and 62.5% were displaced. Sleep disturbance, disinterest, and detachment were the most often reported symptoms, with a mean PTSD score of 2.50. 8.9% of people matched the criterion for severe depression, while more than half (55.8%) showed depressed symptoms. Mental health beliefs were influenced by cultural perspectives, with 39.1% attributing difficulties to trauma, 20.8% to supernatural causes, and 33.9% to social factors. Many people preferred family, religious leaders, or traditional healers, even though 57.3% felt comfortable receiving professional assistance. Poverty, stigma, and a lack of resources exacerbate the high prevalence of PTSD and depression among Waberi District residents. There is an urgent need for culturally relevant, community-based mental health therapies.