Psychological rehabilitation of landmine victims in Cambodia

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of a qualitative study into the experience of an economic intervention for landmine victims with chronic pain syndrome in rural Cambodia. The study aims to find changes in chronic pain after an economical intervention in the form of a loan to the victims, e.g. a cow or a pig or a certain amount of money. This research is following another research in year 2000 by TMC (Tromsø Mineskadesenter) for evaluation of chronic pain in landmine victims on Battambang1. That study indicated that chronic pain syndrome is a major medical problem in severely injured landmine accident survivors, whether those survivors are amputees or not. The authors found that the quality of primary trauma care did not reduce post-injury pain, and that one of the most important factors associated with post-injury pain was the economic impact of the injury. Data collection took place through fieldwork in Battambang province during October and November 2002. Questionnaire, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with landmine victims create the basis of the findings. Visual analog scale for self-evaluating of pain was used as indicator for severity of chronic pain in questionnaires. In depth interview and focus group discussion were used as triangulation of data for chronic pain evaluation. Two major groups of victims were evaluated; first victims who got loan two years ago and second victims who didn t get loan. Results show significant reduction in pain and increasing life quality in victims who got the loan and started a business. Lack of job as a main reason poverty leads to increased risk taking. Economic impact of intervention to improve quality of life seems the major factor to reduce chronic pain and enhance psycho-social rehabilitation. The results of the present study may be of help to policy makers in aiding landmine victims to have income-generating activity in the future.