(P1-94) Psychosocial Care for Children Affected by Tsunami - Through Child Care Activity Centers

Abstract

Psychosoical Care For Children Affected By Tsunami-Through Child Care Activities Centers Kavitha. P*, Sekar Kasi** Tsunami of 26 December 2004 shattered the lives, hopes and dreams of the people living in the coastal belts especially that of children where 37-39% of total death reported were children. Sad faith of children continued as many became orphans, single parented, lost their friends, school and happy environs where they enjoyed their life with their parents and friends. Displacement to the temporary shelters snatched away the emotional from family members, the unhygienic conditions resulted in the epidemics beyond their coping. A need assessment conducted among 1120 children in Kanniyakumari, Nagapattinam and Karaikkal revealed that impact is seen in all the children survided, 2/3 parents reported of probable problem behavior and conduct problem in children, 1/10 children were identified by teachers to have conduct problem, 1/10 children were identified by parent and child to have emotional problem due to the impact, 1/100 children impacted were behaviorally disturbed, 1/ 100 children is definitely behaviorally disturbed and has a probability of mental health problem. Children are young and in experienced to understand, comprehend or verbalize the trauma. An integrated approach model was initiated through community level workers using art as a medium. Psychosocial care was provided to children through seven mediums: Facial expressions, Thematic cards, Drawing, Family portrait, Writing, Story and Clay, in stages repeatedly. The results of the intervention revealed that the intervention was effective in reducing the trauma among children as mean for the impact has reduced from 31 to 26 after the intervention. The behavior problem reported among children reduced form 65% to 45% after intervention confirming the effectiveness of psychosocial mediums in reducing trauma among children affected by disaster. *Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore, India **Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore, India.