Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following exposure to acute psychological trauma in children aged 8-16 years in South Africa: the Sinethemba longitudinal study

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IntroductionChildren exposed to trauma are vulnerable to developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other adverse mental health outcomes. In research conducted in high-income countries (HIC), psychosocial and psychobiological predictors of persistent PTSD have been identified. However, research has typically focused on children who have experienced relatively low-risk events for PTSD and high overall levels of support and access to resources. In low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) like South Africa, children are at increased risk of exposure to severe trauma, and co-occurring adversities are common. Little is known about the factors that predict good versus poor psychological recovery following trauma exposure in such children, and the role of caregiver support in these high-adversity communities. Methods and analysisWe will conduct a longitudinal, observational study of 250 children aged 8-16 years and their primary caregivers in South Africa. Caregiver-child dyads will be assessed within 4 weeks of experiencing a traumatic event, followed by a 3-month and 6-month follow-up assessment. Participants will provide a narrative description of the traumatic event, alongside answering questionnaires designed to give information about social and psychological factors that will allow investigation of pathways to recovery versus persistent PTSD.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approvals have been granted for this study by Stellenbosch University, the University of Bath, and all recruitment sites. Results of this study have the potential to identify early predictors of children’s persistent PTSD following trauma as well as targets for intervention. These findings will be disseminated via publication in journals, workshops aimed at practitioners and policymakers, and public engagement events.

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