**7.9 Prognosis**

The outcome of post-traumatic stress disorder in Uganda is unknown. However clinical experience indicates that most individuals with the disorder recover on two to six sessions of counselling. It is possible that the ubiquitous social support available to people in their communities contributes to the apparent good prognosis for victims of traumatic experiences in rural Uganda. Ovuga et al (2008) have reported that former child soldiers in northern Uganda who returned to their homes without passing through government established reception centres had lower mean scores on the Harvard Trauma questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for depression. Ovuga and colleagues attributed their observation on the possibility that the child soldiers who went directly to their communities had committed fewer atrocities, were more readily received and forgiven by their respective communities, and possibly experienced fewer traumatic experiences than their colleagues who returned home through the government reception facilities.

#### **8. References**

Akello G, Reis R, Ovuga E, Rwabukwali EB, Kabonesa C, & Richters R (2007). Primary school children's perspectives of common diseases and medicines used:

psychological interventions. Evidence suggests that immediate intervention prevents the development of long-term psychological effects of trauma of whatever cause. Availability of services for the early detection of landslides and earth tremors with prompt evacuation of civilians from danger spots prevents unnecessary physical and psychological harm and public sensitisation and education about these services is perhaps the most significant step

Secondly, road safety based on controlling the use of alcohol and other intoxicants, following appropriate road safety regulations, and taking measures to promote visibility on public roads and access routes reduces or prevents unnecessary motor vehicle accidents. Parenting skills and availability of family services reduces on domestic violence and child abuse. This should also be extended to child guidance and counselling in schools for teachers and children. Strengthening existing social support systems in the face of disasters

Measures to prevent crime should form the armamentarium against PTSD. Issues of poverty reduction, the early detection and treatment of severe mental illness in the household and sensitization on security matters might act together to significantly reduce the incidence of

Communities in Northern Uganda are keen to prevent the vicious cycles of militarised violence as seen in perpetual wars in Uganda. This can only be by building institutions for respecting observances of Universal Human Rights and as well as participatory democratic governance which is culturally acceptable and understandable by the cultural diversity of peoples in their various groupings and yet with respect and tolerance of others who may be different. The principles and values of Human Rights should be a taught subject in schools from primary school to the highest levels of learning and in all the colleges of the nation as well as in homes as a sign of good education, civility and culture. Furthermore renewed cycles of violence in African countries can only be stopped if governments make peace and reconciliation with respect for the principles of fairness, justice and equal opportunities for every citizen to participate in governance at the top of their policy agendas for national security and stability that support all other government efforts toward good governance.

The outcome of post-traumatic stress disorder in Uganda is unknown. However clinical experience indicates that most individuals with the disorder recover on two to six sessions of counselling. It is possible that the ubiquitous social support available to people in their communities contributes to the apparent good prognosis for victims of traumatic experiences in rural Uganda. Ovuga et al (2008) have reported that former child soldiers in northern Uganda who returned to their homes without passing through government established reception centres had lower mean scores on the Harvard Trauma questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for depression. Ovuga and colleagues attributed their observation on the possibility that the child soldiers who went directly to their communities had committed fewer atrocities, were more readily received and forgiven by their respective communities, and possibly experienced fewer traumatic experiences than their colleagues

Akello G, Reis R, Ovuga E, Rwabukwali EB, Kabonesa C, & Richters R (2007). Primary

school children's perspectives of common diseases and medicines used:

toward preventing the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder.

will help mitigate the long-term harmful effects of traumatic experience.

violent traumatic events in the lives of the ordinary individual.

who returned home through the government reception facilities.

**7.9 Prognosis** 

**8. References** 

implications for school healthcare programmes and priority setting for Uganda, *African Health Sciences*, 7(2): 74-80


**Part 4** 

**Post-Traumatic Stress in** 

**Special Situations** 

in conflict-affected settings in Africa; *Emerging Themes in Epidemiology*; 1:6 doi:10.1186/1742-7622-1-6

