Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Boko Haram insurgency in North-Eastern Nigeria has caused widespread displacement and severe psychological distress, particularly among internally displaced women.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence, severity, and sociodemographic correlates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among internally displaced women in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. A total of 2,046 women aged 18 years and above were selected through multistage sampling from internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analyses at p < .05.

RESULTS: The prevalence of depression and PTSD was 94.4% and 79.6%, respectively, with 72.6% of participants experiencing comorbidity. Most respondents reported moderate to severe psychological distress. Depression and PTSD were significantly associated with age, marital status, education, employment, and duration of displacement (p < .01). Regression analysis showed that all sociodemographic variables significantly predicted PTSD, with duration of displacement as the strongest predictor (R² = .181, p < .001). The depression model was also significant (R² = .075, p < .001).

CONCLUSION: Internally displaced women in Maiduguri experience a high burden of mental health problems. Integrated, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed interventions are urgently required.

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