The Prevalence and Correlates of Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia among Camp Residing Palestinian Women Migrants during the Outbreak of the War on Gaza: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The current war on the Gaza strip and the circulating violent content is believed to negatively impact the mental health of the Palestinians living in refugee camps outside their homeland. This study explores the prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and insomnia in a cohort of female Palestinian refugees in Jordan who have family members entangled in the persistent conflict in the Gaza strip. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study employed validated tools to assess depression, anxiety, and insomnia in women residing in a Gaza camp located in Jerash, Jordan. The correlates were determined by regression analysis. Results: The study unearths disconcerting statistics from 177 recruited women, revealing alarmingly high rates of severe depression (73%), anxiety (60%), and insomnia (65%). Multivariable analysis revealed that severe depression was significantly associated with prior diagnosis with chronic diseases (OR = 3.0, CI = 1.36–6.58), and having a first-degree relative in Gaza (OR = 0.42, CI = 0.20–0.85). Additionally, severe insomnia was associated with “losing relatives or friends in the war” (OR = 3.01, CI = 1.41–6.44), and “losing connection with families and friends” (OR = 3.89, CI = 1.58–9.53). Conclusions: The implications of these results are profound, underscoring the immediate and imperative need for both medical and psychiatric interventions aimed at addressing the substantial psychological burden borne by this population because of the ongoing conflict.