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PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN PERU: THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PARTICIPATION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2004

LESLIE SNIDER
Affiliation:
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA
CLAUDIO CABREJOS
Affiliation:
University College of San Diego, USA
EDITH HUAYLLASCO MARQUINA
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga, Department of Research, Ayacucho, Peru
JUAN JOSE TRUJILLO
Affiliation:
Development Office of the Municipality of Huamanga, Ayacucho, Peru
ALEXIS AVERY
Affiliation:
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA
HOMERO ANGO AGUILAR
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga, Department of Research, Ayacucho, Peru

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot study assessing the psychosocial impact of political violence in the Peruvian Andes, utilizing a collaborative approach with local professionals and communities. The study team prioritized dialogue and information exchange with the local professional community and villagers participating in the assessment in order to raise awareness of psychosocial issues and provide education and support. Participation in the pilot study had positive therapeutic effects for villagers, and inspired ongoing discussion groups to address psychosocial problems in communities. This paper also describes a psychosocial assessment strategy utilizing qualitative methods and an adaptation of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire in collaboration with Andean villagers. Usefulness and limitations of the data will be reviewed, in terms of cultural and context relevance, usefulness for informing interventions, and comparisons with ethnographic methodologies and other survey instruments.

Type
Regular Articles
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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