The aims of this study were to estimate the rate of post-traumatic
stress reactions in
Palestinian children who experienced war traumas, and to investigate the
relationship
between trauma-related factors and PTSD reactions. The sample consisted
of 239 children
of 6 to 11 years of age. Measures included the Rutter A2 (parent) and B2
(teacher) scales, the
Gaza Traumatic Event Checklist, and the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction
Index. Of
the sample, 174 children (72.8%) reported PTSD reactions of at least mild
intensity, while
98 (41%) reported moderate/severe PTSD reactions. Caseness on the Rutter
A2 scale was
detected in 64 children (26.8%), which correlated well with detection of
PTSD reactions, but
not with teacher-detected caseness. The total number of experienced traumas
was the best
predictor of presence and severity of PTSD. Intervention programmes for
post-war children
need to be evaluated, taking into account developmental and cultural aspects,
as well as
characteristics of the communities involved.