Leila Gupta|Catherine Zimmer
Psychosocial intervention for war-affected children in Sierra Leone
Plan International|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
psychosocial interventions address educational needs psychological distress among displaced children postconflict settingsto assess psychosocial status displaced children enrolled rapided intervention determine whether rapided intervention alleviated traumatic stress symptoms interfere learning among waraffected children sierra leonea randomly selected sample 315 children aged 818 years displaced war interviewed war experiences reactions violence participating 4week rapided intervention combining basic education trauma healing activitieshigh levels intrusion arousal avoidance symptoms reported pretest interviews conducted 912 months war posttest findings showed statistically significant decreases intrusion arousal symptoms p00001 slight increase avoidance reactions p00001 greater optimism futurethe findings suggest potential combining basic education trauma healing activities children postconflict settings confirmatory studies using control group needed conducting research postconflict settings presents unique challenges