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Objetivos Determinar en tres municipios de Cundinamarca la prevalencia del Trastorno por Estrés Postraumático (TEPT) infantil y factores asociados, según tipo de exposición a la guerra. Métodos Estudio de corte transversal. Muestra representativa de 493 escolares de 5 a 14 años de edad. 167 niños en La Palma, con exposición crónica; 164 en Arbeláez, con un hostigamiento armado reciente y 162 en Sopó, sin exposición. Por medio de entrevistas psiquiátricas semi-estructuradas y la Escala para Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático Administrada por el Clínico se determinó la prevalencia de TEPT y factores de vulnerabilidad, la razón de desventaja (RD) y Ji-cuadrada. Se hizo análisis multivariado con regresión logística. Los niños afectados requirieron intervención de salud mental. Resultados Prevalencia de TEPT bélico: La Palma 16,8 %, Arbeláez 23,2 %, y Sopó 1,2 %. Al comparar los municipios expuestos con Sopó: RD 19,9 (IC 4,7, 119,2), Ji-cuadrada 30,4 P=0,000. La regresión logística identificó que la proximidad geográfica y la alteración emocional intensa con el evento estresante incrementaron el TEPT. Los factores de vulnerabilidad predominaron en los municipios expuestos a la guerra. Los indicadores de pobreza, baja escolaridad paterna y maltrato infantil predominaron en La Palma. En Arbeláez predominó el déficit de atención y los trastornos psicosomáticos. Conclusiones La Guerra afecta la salud mental infantil. Los niños de los municipios expuestos tuvieron 19 veces mayor probabilidad de sufrir TEPT bélico que los no expuestos. Intervenir tempranamente es prioridad en salud pública. Los resultados son útiles para países con conflicto bélico o terrorismo. OBJECTIVE: Determining the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the type of war exposure and associated factors in school-aged children from three Colombian towns. METHODS: Cross-sectional epidemiological study. Representative randomised sample of 493 children aged 5-14. The children were evaluated during 2002 using semi-structured psychiatric interviews and the clinician administered PTSD scale. 167 children were evaluated in La Palma who had been chronically exposed to war, 164 in Arbeláez who had had recent war-exposure and 162 in Sopó who had not been exposed to war. War-related PTSD prevalence was calculated in each municipality. Odds ratio (OR) and chi-square were used for evaluating the association between exposure to war and PTSD and the related risk. Multivariate analysis used the logistic regression model. The affected children required specialised mental health counselling. RESULTS: The prevalence of PTSD resulting from war was 16,8 % in La Palma, 23,2 % in Arbeláez and 1.2% in Sopó. A 19.9 OR (CI 4.7, 119.2), 30,5 Chi-square and p = 0.000 revealed war-related PTSD association and risk for children when comparing the exposed towns to Sopó. The logistic regression showed that geographical closeness to war zone and intense emotional reaction to war increased the probability of war-related PTSD. Vulnerability factors were predominant in war-exposed towns. Poverty, parents' low educational level and child abuse predominated in La Palma. Attention-deficit and psychosomatic disorders were more prevalent in Arbeláez. CONCLUSIONS: War affects children's mental health; the children from the exposed towns had 19 times greater probability of war-related PTSD than those from a non-exposed town. Early therapeutic intervention is a public health priority. The results are useful for countries suffering from war, internal conflict and/or terrorism.

Determining the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the type of war exposure and associated factors in school-aged children from three Colombian towns.Cross-sectional epidemiological study. Representative randomised sample of 493 children aged 5-14. The children were evaluated during 2002 using semi-structured psychiatric interviews and the clinician administered PTSD scale. 167 children were evaluated in La Palma who had been chronically exposed to war, 164 in Arbeláez who had had recent war-exposure and 162 in Sopó who had not been exposed to war. War-related PTSD prevalence was calculated in each municipality. Odds ratio (OR) and chi-square were used for evaluating the association between exposure to war and PTSD and the related risk. Multivariate analysis used the logistic regression model. The affected children required specialised mental health counselling.The prevalence of PTSD resulting from war was 16,8 % in La Palma, 23,2 % in Arbeláez and 1.2% in Sopó. A 19.9 OR (CI 4.7, 119.2), 30,5 Chi-square and p = 0.000 revealed war-related PTSD association and risk for children when comparing the exposed towns to Sopó. The logistic regression showed that geographical closeness to war zone and intense emotional reaction to war increased the probability of war-related PTSD. Vulnerability factors were predominant in war-exposed towns. Poverty, parents' low educational level and child abuse predominated in La Palma. Attention-deficit and psychosomatic disorders were more prevalent in Arbeláez.War affects children's mental health; the children from the exposed towns had 19 times greater probability of war-related PTSD than those from a non-exposed town. Early therapeutic intervention is a public health priority. The results are useful for countries suffering from war, internal conflict and/or terrorism.