Stress Assessment during Pre-Disaster Phase in Kiziba Village, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Empirical studies talk about vulnerability of rural/remote communities. (Bart Weijs et al, 2012; Gunn, KM; Kettler, 2012; Juliet Hassard and Kevin Teach, 2013) Psychological problems are significant in these communities leading to high rate of suicide in rural and remote areas as oppose to urban areas.(Gunn, KM; Kettler, 2012) Isolation, poor infrastructure and poor access to health care services are found to be the contributing factors to this. (Juliet Hassard and Kevin Teoch, 2013) Kiziba village has been experiencing volcanic eruptions over the years and a threat of a limbic eruption on the top of the vulnerabilities stated above. Such a complexity recalls scientists and policy makers to take appropriate actions. That's how I decided to carry out this descriptive and cross sectional study titled Stress Assessment during pre-disaster phase in Kiziba village, democratic Republic of Congo.  Two specific objectives are followed: to assess the stress of people in Kiziba Village and to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors that strengthen this stress. 380 people (males and females) aged 18 to 77 years participated in this research.

The following key lessons emerge from the literature:

•          The disaster affects people's mental at all stages of the disaster (Pre-disaster phase, during the disaster and post-disaster phase)

•          In pre-disaster stage, people are more concerned about the risk of losing their houses and properties that they struggled to put in place as well as inability of protecting their family members and beloved ones. This brings a feeling of uncertainty about the future.

•          Stress is a normal reaction to a threat or disturbing change in an environment. Therefore it can affect a human positively or negatively. Even when it affects us negatively, it's important to differentiate mental distress with mental disorders. Distress always disappears some days after the shock and does not need a psychological support but for mental disorders it needs to identify the type of the illness and requires a therapy. This paper will be referring to mental disorder. 

This study shows that a big majority was found either with high stress or moderate stress and only 5.7% had a low stress. Gender had a positive relationship with stress while educational level had a negative relationship with stress. The assumption is that in case of other stressors considering as a confounding factor to this study such as war, political instability, it will lead some people with moderate stress to have a high level of stress.

Therefore i recommend the government to come up with an intervention of psychosocial support for disasters. The psychosocial support will be of a great help for the community during the warning period and in the evacuation process. It will be about to bring psychologists expert at the household level to give counseling and educate people how to control fear and to make critical decision despite the panic during and volcanic eruption or gas explosion, spreading regularly information in radio and public places on the volcano and the potential risks.