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The utilization and perceived usefulness of health care and other support services by people exposed to traumatic events related to the war in the Balkans

Authors :
Tanja Frančišković
Zoran Šuković
Zdravko Tovilović
Dean Ajduković
Marija Bogić
Abdulah Kučukalić
Dušica Lečić-Tosevski
Nexhmedin Morina
Mihajlo Popovski
Stefan Priebe
Source :
Acta Medica Academica, Vol 42, Iss 1, Pp 4-14 (2013)
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2013.

Abstract

Objective. To explore which health care and other support services people exposed to traumatic events related to the war use, how helpful they perceive them in the course of their post-war adaptation and whether utilization and perceived usefulness depend on the mental health status of participants. Methods. A community sample of 3304 adults exposed to at least one war-related traumatic event was randomly selected in different regions in the former Yugoslavia. A specifically designed instrument, the Matrix for the Assessment of Community and Healthcare Services, was used to record service utilization and their perceived usefulness. The mental health status of participants was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results. Primary health care was the most frequently used type of service (80.5%). Services providing help with leisure activities, social support and social contacts were perceived as most helpful. Participants with current post-traumatic stress disorder used all types of health care services and employment support services significantly more often than participants without mental disorders and participants with other mental disorders. They were more satisfied with primary health care services than participants without mental disorders and less satisfied with financial and material support services as compared to participants with other mental disorders. Conclusions. The frequency of utilization of different types of services varies greatly in war affected communities. Medical services are widely used and therefore have a central role in the care provision following a war. Services providing help with leisure activities and social support are most appreciated and may be more widely established.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
18401848 and 18402879
Volume :
42
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Acta Medica Academica
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.75dceada4354a459549714e598d0df3
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.65