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Health perspectives among Halabja’s civilian survivors of sulfur mustard exposure with respiratory symptoms—A qualitative study

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  • Faraidoun Moradi
  • Mia Söderberg
  • Fazil Moradi
  • Bledar Daka
  • Anna-Carin Olin
  • Mona Lärstad

Abstract

Background: In 1988, Halabja came under heavy chemical warfare attack using chemicals such as sulfur mustard (SM). Thousands of survivors of SM exposure in the city today live with multiple health complaints, such as severe, long-lasting respiratory symptoms; but their perceptions of health have never been adequately researched. We aimed to explore current major health concern topics in civilian survivors with long-term respiratory symptoms. Method: Sixteen subjects (f:m10:6, mean age 45.5 years (range 34–67)) were interviewed. Study participants were recruited in 2016 via a purposive sampling strategy among civilian survivors of chemical warfare in the city of Halabja in Kurdistan-Iraq. A qualitative research design was applied including semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Data was analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results: The analysis yielded fourteen themes related to: (1) General health: all participants described a deterioration in physical and psychological health, following the SM exposure, foremost involving respiratory symptoms, fatigue, sleeping disorders, ocular problems, depressive symptoms, and anxiety; (2) Quality of life: most notably, they reported a limited family life, limited social relations, lack of work ability, and concern about their financial situation. Moreover, many lived in constant fear of a renewed attack; (3) access to health care services: all participants reported that they had no, or only poor, access to health care services and limited access to specialist care, and all reported lack of financial resources to obtain treatment. Conclusions: The post-exposure somatic and psychosocial effects such as respiratory symptoms of CWA are plausible contributor to poor general health and quality of life among survivors. We conclude that multidisciplinary interventions are needed to tackle the biopsychosocial complications in survivors of SM exposure to minimize further health damage in the future, as well as to promote their health-related quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Faraidoun Moradi & Mia Söderberg & Fazil Moradi & Bledar Daka & Anna-Carin Olin & Mona Lärstad, 2019. "Health perspectives among Halabja’s civilian survivors of sulfur mustard exposure with respiratory symptoms—A qualitative study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0218648
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218648
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    1. Jason Foo & Sarah H Landis & Joe Maskell & Yeon-Mok Oh & Thys van der Molen & MeiLan K Han & David M Mannino & Masakazu Ichinose & Yogesh Punekar, 2016. "Continuing to Confront COPD International Patient Survey: Economic Impact of COPD in 12 Countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-15, April.
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    1. Darya Rostam Ahmed, 2024. "From Holocaust to Anfal: The impact of genocide and cross-generational trauma on the mental health of Kurds," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(3), pages 621-625, May.

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