Exposure to violence and posttraumatic stress disorder in a rural adult population in South Africa

The purpose of the study is to identify exposure to violence and its consequences for health in an adult community in rural South African. The instruments used for the interviews included a 24-item Exposure-to-Violence checklist, a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interview schedule, and the Self-Reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). The sample included 132 adults: 48 (35%) males and 84 (65%) females in cheage range of 19-74 (mean age 33, SD=14,3). Fifty-seven (41%) reported that they had undergone a traumatic experience during their lifetime. Eleven (8%) adults were classified as having a PTSD. With increased exposure co violence, the PTSD score increased but the SRQ score (indicative of minor psychiatric morbidity) did not.