Prevalence And Demographic Determinants Of Combat Exposure Posttraumatic Stress DisorderAmong Frontline Nigerian Army Personnel

Abstract

This study was conducted to establish the prevalence and demographic determinants of combat exposure posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among operatives of the Nigerian Army. It primarily adopted a descriptive survey approach, characterized by an ex post facto design, as the researcher could not manipulate variables but could only reflect on naturally occurring differences that may exist due to age and gender. The study population comprises frontline soldiers attached to Division I of the Nigerian Army's Dalet Barracks, Kaduna, a mechanized infantry division significantly involved in counter-insurgency and security operations in the North-West region of the country. A total of 407 frontline operatives (317 males and 90 females) were selected using purposive sampling to provide a variety of data, all of whom had practical experience in direct combat. The Post-Combat Stress Scale (PCSS)-an extensive 22-item questionnaire that evaluated combat exposure and the subsequent psychological stress was administered to the respondents. To determine the range of retained combat exposure PTSD in frontline operatives, the mean and standard deviation were calculated, whereas an Independent Samples t-test was used for comparing combat exposure PTSD reports with respect to gender. The findings of the descriptive statisticsindicated that the mean of combat exposure PTSD scores among Nigerian security operatives was 57.16 (SD=14.36), showing moderate to high exposure. This also revealed some significant differences regarding combat exposure PTSD among the age and gender of the respondents within the study. Having a significantly higher combat exposure PTSD score compared with the seniors, the younger operatives displayed an exposure mean of 56.18 (SD=15.34), which was in sharp contrast to that of the elderly, having an exposure mean of 53.91 (SD=11.75), t (405) =2.45, p=0.015. Again, male security operatives had a higher mean combat exposure PTSD of 57.76 (SD=15.34) than their female counterparts, having an exposure score of 55.61 (SD=11.75), t(305)=2.60, p=0.010. In conclusion, military combat is supported by age and gender, and young male soldiers experienced stronger combat exposure PTSD. These findings reiterate the need for psychological support for frontline military personnel, irrespective of age or gender. The study contributes to the understanding of occupational stress in the military and provides evidence for maintaining the welfare and operational effectiveness of soldiers.

Adebayo David Oluwole; Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto; Oyesoji Aremu; Adedeji Tella; Olarenwaju A. Oladejo; Farida Abubakar; Jamilah Musa & Hadizan Usman. Prevalence And Demographic Determinants Of Combat Exposure Posttraumatic Stress DisorderAmong Frontline Nigerian Army Personnel. Ibadan Journal of Educational Studies, 23(2), 37-54.