Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semistructured questionnaire by four trained data psychiatry nurses by means of the Amharic version of the tool for a month. The questionnaire was designed in English and translated to Amharic and back to English to maintain consistency. Data collectors were trained on how to interview participants and explain unclear questions and the purpose of the study. Furthermore, they were made aware about ethical principles, such as confidentiality/anonymity/data management, and securing respondents’ informed consent for participation.
PTSD was measured using the PCL-C. The PCL is a standardised self-report rating scale for PTSD comprising 17 items that correspond to the key Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV symptoms of PTSD. A total symptom severity score (range=17–85) was obtained by summing the scores from each of the 17 items. It had a Likert response options ranging from1 (link) ‘not at all’ to5 (link) ‘extremely’ and a cut-off ≥50, that is, garbage landslide victims had PTSD symptoms.24 (link) We adapted this instrument from a study conducted on Somali and Oromo Ethiopians in Minnesota.25 (link) It showed a high internal consistency, reliability and a strong correlation with PTSD diagnosis. We conducted a reliability analysis for the PCL-C questionnaire (Amharic version) and that it a had high score (Cronbach’s α=0.94).
PTSD was measured using the PCL-C. The PCL is a standardised self-report rating scale for PTSD comprising 17 items that correspond to the key Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV symptoms of PTSD. A total symptom severity score (range=17–85) was obtained by summing the scores from each of the 17 items. It had a Likert response options ranging from1 (link) ‘not at all’ to5 (link) ‘extremely’ and a cut-off ≥50, that is, garbage landslide victims had PTSD symptoms.24 (link) We adapted this instrument from a study conducted on Somali and Oromo Ethiopians in Minnesota.25 (link) It showed a high internal consistency, reliability and a strong correlation with PTSD diagnosis. We conducted a reliability analysis for the PCL-C questionnaire (Amharic version) and that it a had high score (Cronbach’s α=0.94).
