Maigari Yusufu Taru et al JMSCR Volume 05 Issue 02 February 2017 Page 17231 JMSCR Vol||05||Issue||02||Pages 17231-17240||February Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Dogonahawa and Zawan, North-Central Nigeria, Four-Years after Communal Violence: Prevalence and Risk Factors Prevalence of and risk factors for PTSD Authors Maigari Yusufu Taru, Moses David Audu, Davou Francis John, Tungchama Friday Philip, Suwa Goden. Goar Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria Corresponding Author Maigari Y Taru Department of Psychiatry, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau state Nigeria Email: Tmaigariyusufu@yahoo.com, Tel: 2348036327951 ABSTRACT Survivors of mass violence are at high risk of developing psychological disorders. However, little is known about the impact of trauma in post conflict low income countries. This study assessed the prevalence of and socio-demographic risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder among conflict survivors in North-Central Nigeria in comparison to a control group drawn from a population that was not exposed to armed-conflict. This is a cross-sectional study that employed a multi stage sampling technique to select respondents in both groups. The Mini international neuropsychiatric interview was used to assess for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and their socio-demographic variables obtained with socio-demographic questionnaire. The results showed that 55.5% and 9.8% of the respondents in the conflict exposed group and the control were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Respondents exposed to mass violence were significantly more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder compared to the control group (p< 0.001). Being a female was the consistent risk factor for the disorder in both groups, while being never married and having individual monthly income below N20,000.00 were also predictive of posttraumatic stress disorder in the group exposed to conflict. In conclusion, posttraumatic stress disorder prevalence was higher among the group exposure to armed- conflict. Thus, an effective model for immediate and long-term mental health support for trauma victims needs to be developed in order to reduce the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder among conflict survivors. Keywords: PTSD, sociodemographic predictors, mass violence, north-central Nigeria. INTRODUCTION Nigeria has witnessed recurrent political and ethno religious conflicts since the exit of the military in 1999; with the North Central region which Plateau State belongs to being one of the areas worst hit. For instance, Dogonahawa, a specific community in Jos South and part of Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau state was subjected to a severe armed attacked on March 7 th 2010. The attackers according to reports were allegedly unknown, close to 500 people mostly women and children were butchered with machetes, clubs, axes and some shot with guns in a surprised midnight raid www.jmscr.igmpublication.org Impact Factor 5.84 Index Copernicus Value: 83.27 ISSN (e)-2347-176x ISSN (p) 2455-0450 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i2.02