{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T16:17:12Z","timestamp":1787242632804,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]],"date-time":"2025-12-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765411200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Over the past two decades, armed conflicts have intensified globally, with Africa disproportionately affected. Since January 2025, renewed violence by the March 23 Movement (M23) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has generated widespread trauma, displacement, and psychological distress. Beyond emotional suffering, trauma has been linked to altered body perception and reduced body satisfaction, particularly among women survivors of violence, adding further complexity to the psychological burden.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study assessed the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among hospital patients in Bukavu and examined associations with body-related symptoms and body satisfaction. It was hypothesized that many patients would meet PTSD criteria, that affected individuals would report lower body satisfaction and greater body-related distress, and that only a small minority would have accessed psychological care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and materials<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data were collected at Ruhigita Clinic, South Kivu. Adults aged 18\u201365 completed the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5, French version) and the Bruchon-Schweitzer Body Satisfaction Questionnaire. A PTSD score \u226532 indicated clinical symptoms; adequate body satisfaction was defined as \u22653. Interviews lasted 45\u201360\u2009min and included demographic and trauma-related data.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 356 patients participated. The mean PTSD score (\n                      <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200923.49; SD\u2009=\u200919.90) was below the diagnostic threshold; however, 31.5% (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u2009112) met PTSD criteria. Among them, 57.1% reported dissatisfaction with body appearance, compared to 32.4% of non-PTSD participants. PTSD was significantly associated with somatic symptoms such as hypertension, diabetes, stomach pain, insomnia, and cardiac complaints. Reported traumas included natural disasters (74.6%), interpersonal violence (73.7%), transport accidents (54.8%), and sexual assaults (54.1%). Natural disasters, particularly floods and wildfires, showed strong associations with PTSD onset. Despite 80% awareness of psychological services, only 9.8% had consulted a clinical psychologist. Gender differences emerged: women relied mainly on religious or spiritual support, while men favoured traditional practices.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study confirms a strong link between PTSD, body dissatisfaction, and somatic symptoms in a conflict-affected population. Despite high awareness of distress, mental health service use remains low. Findings highlight the need for integrative, culturally sensitive interventions that respect local understandings of trauma and healing while addressing urgent gaps in psychological care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1704684","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]],"date-time":"2025-12-11T06:35:52Z","timestamp":1765434952000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Post-traumatic stress disorder and body satisfaction among patients at Ruhigita clinic, Bukavu (DRC): an observational study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Justin","family":"Cikuru","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Philippe","family":"Kaganda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ad\u00e9la\u00efde","family":"Blavier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer","family":"Foucart","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1007\/s44192-025-00137-1","article-title":"Bouncing back after trauma: music therapy, gender, and mental health in conflict-ridden settings","volume":"5","author":"Alexandre","year":"","journal-title":"Discov. Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2486440","DOI":"10.1080\/17441692.2025.2486440","article-title":"Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes region of Africa","volume":"20","author":"Alexandre","year":"","journal-title":"Glob. Public Health"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Mini DSM-5\u00ae: Crit\u00e8res diagnostiques","author":"Crocq","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1336665","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2024.1336665","article-title":"Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and associated factors among displaced people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"15","author":"Andualem","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0161645","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0161645","article-title":"Psychometric validation of the English and French versions of the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)","volume":"11","author":"Ashbaugh","year":"2016","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.3917\/ris.134.0095","article-title":"Les crises oubli\u00e9es, le d\u00e9fi invisible de l\u2019aide internationale","volume":"134","author":"Ba","year":"2024","journal-title":"Rev. int. strat\u00e9g."},{"key":"ref7004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"861","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-57296-9_146","article-title":"Therapeutic Pluralism and the Process of Change","volume-title":"Innovations in Global Mental Health","author":"Balegamire","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref7003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.afjem.2018.07.008","article-title":"The burden of trauma presenting to the government referral hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone: An observational study","volume":"9","author":"Bundu","year":"2019","journal-title":"African Journal of Emergency Medicine"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114334","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2021.114334","article-title":"The psychopathological impact of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on subjects suffering from different mental disorders: an observational retrospective study","volume":"307","author":"Caldiroli","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13","DOI":"10.1017\/gmh.2021.11","article-title":"Impact of the healing in harmony program on women\u2019s mental health in a rural area in south Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo","volume":"8","author":"Cikuru","year":"2021","journal-title":"Global Mental Health"},{"key":"ref9003","volume-title":"L\u2019\u00e9chantillonnage al\u00e9atoire stratifi\u00e9: D\u00e9finition, m\u00e9thode et exemples","author":"Fleetwood","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3107","DOI":"10.5281\/zenodo.14173553","article-title":"R\u00e9paration des traumatismes individuels, familiaux et communautaires","volume":"2","author":"Florentin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Revue Internationale de la Recherche Scientifique (Revue-IRS)"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1007\/s10943-023-01795-7","article-title":"Religious and medical pluralism among traditional healers in Johannesburg, South Africa","volume":"63","author":"Galvin","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Relig. Health"},{"key":"ref11","first-page":"2","article-title":"Entre stigmates et soutiens: Parcours th\u00e9rapeutiques et perceptions de la sant\u00e9 mentale \u00e0 Abidjan","volume":"2","author":"Gbagbo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Rev. Francophone."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1007\/s44192-024-00069-2","article-title":"Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among internally displaced persons: unveiling the impact of the war of Tigray","volume":"4","author":"Gebreyesus","year":"2024","journal-title":"Discov. Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"488","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.12710","article-title":"Mindfulness-based interventions for body image dissatisfaction among clinical population: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"29","author":"Gopan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br. J. Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"971","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(25)00334-4","article-title":"Unjustified silence in the face of this new war in eastern DR Congo","volume":"405","author":"Hatem","year":"2025","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.19044\/esipreprint.12.2022.p318","article-title":"La violence Comme Variable Consubstantielle du Pouvoir en Afrique Postcoloniale","volume":"12","author":"Hortence","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101659","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2021.101659","article-title":"Impacts of nature and built acoustic-visual environments on human\u2019s multidimensional mood states: a cross-continent experiment","volume":"77","author":"Jiang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Environ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000890","article-title":"Posttraumatic stress disorder and persistent somatic symptoms during the COVID\u221219 pandemic: the role of sense of threat","volume":"83","author":"Jowett","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychosom. Med."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"563","DOI":"10.1002\/jts.23031","article-title":"Improving access to evidence-based interventions for trauma-exposed adults in low- and middle-income countries","volume":"37","author":"Kaminer","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Trauma. Stress."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"586","DOI":"10.1177\/14680173221144551","article-title":"The roles and ethics of psychosocial support workers in integrated health services for sexual and gender-based violence survivors","volume":"23","author":"Kasherwa","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Soc. Work."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amp.2023.04.014","article-title":"Image du corps et estime de soi des patients VIH au Gabon","volume":"182","author":"Koumba","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ann. M\u00e9dico-Psychol. Rev. Psychiatr."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1111\/pcn.13108","article-title":"Mental health of medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Togo","volume":"74","author":"Kounou","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"978703","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.978703","article-title":"Prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress in war- and conflict-afflicted areas: a meta-analysis","volume":"13","author":"Lim","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1107144","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1107144","article-title":"Prevalence and incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder and symptoms in people with chronic somatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"Lunkenheimer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111492","DOI":"10.1016\/j.injury.2024.111492","article-title":"Effect of trauma quality improvement initiatives on outcomes and costs at community hospitals: a scoping review","volume":"55","author":"McIver","year":"2024","journal-title":"Injury"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100458","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejtd.2024.100458","article-title":"Esquisse d\u2019une analyse psychopathologique de la souffrance des populations du nord B\u00e9nin confront\u00e9es au terrorisme","volume":"8","author":"Mehinto","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur. J. Trauma Dissociation"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24837","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-022-03495-z","article-title":"Childhood trauma and body dissatisfaction among young adult women: the mediating role of self-criticism","volume":"42","author":"Mome\u00f1e","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr. Psychol."},{"key":"ref27","first-page":"86","article-title":"Enjeux de la repr\u00e9sentation du corps chez un policier amput\u00e9 de membre sup\u00e9rieur et difficult\u00e9s d'adaptation socioprofessionnelle au Burkina Faso","author":"Moussa","year":"2024","journal-title":"Afr. Perspect."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1002156","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1002156","article-title":"A holistic, person-Centred care model for victims of sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo: the Panzi hospital one-stop Centre model of care","volume":"13","author":"Mukwege","year":"2016","journal-title":"PLoS Med."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1351204","DOI":"10.1080\/20008198.2017.1351204","article-title":"Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update","volume":"8","author":"Olff","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Psychotraumatol."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1186\/s13033-023-00574-x","article-title":"Reprioritising global mental health: psychoses in sub-Saharan Africa","volume":"17","author":"Omigbodun","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Ment. Heal. Syst."},{"key":"ref7001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.afjem.2025.03.003","article-title":"Evaluating the availability, effectiveness, and impact of primary trauma care training in Sub-Saharan Africa: A comprehensive review","author":"Osebo","year":"2025","journal-title":"African Journal of Emergency Medicine"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.3917\/spub.222.0299","article-title":"Itin\u00e9raires th\u00e9rapeutiques et acc\u00e8s aux soins en sant\u00e9 mentale: Une ethnographie au Burkina Faso","volume":"34","author":"Pigeon-Gagn\u00e9","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sante Publique"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1186\/s13031-021-00350-z","article-title":"Mental health and psychosocial support in conflict: children\u2019s protection concerns and intervention outcomes in Syria","volume":"15","author":"Raslan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Confl. Heal."},{"key":"ref7002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"507","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-publhealth-032315-021412","article-title":"The Impact of Trauma Care Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries","volume":"38","author":"Reynolds","year":"2017","journal-title":"Annual Review of Public Health"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101772","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2024.101772","article-title":"The impact of yoga on body image in adults: a systematic review of quantitative studies","volume":"51","author":"Rupani","year":"2024","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1091","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-22252-y","article-title":"\u2018We do not like talking about our problems\u2019: socialization and idealized masculinity as drivers of help-seeking avoidance among college men in South Africa","volume":"25","author":"Sikweyiya","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref35","first-page":"28","article-title":"Proliferation of hospital facilities in the Ibanda health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo: determinants and perceptions of health stakeholders","volume-title":"International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies","author":"Sivyavugha","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"238","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jidi.2024.08.004","article-title":"Guide pratique pour comprendre les publications scientifiques. \u00c9pisode 1 \u2013 Introduction, questions et types d\u2019\u00e9tude","volume":"7","author":"Tasu","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Imagerie Diagn. Intervention."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0300894","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0300894","article-title":"Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among internally displaced persons in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"19","author":"Tesfaye","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e254","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(19)30504-2","article-title":"Guided self-help to reduce psychological distress in south Sudanese female refugees in Uganda: a cluster randomised trial","volume":"8","author":"Tol","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Glob. Health"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1097\/YCO.0000000000000872","article-title":"Traditional and faith-based healthcare in the management of psychotic disorders in Africa: in search for synergy","volume":"36","author":"Van der Zeijst","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.3389\/fnbeh.2018.00258","article-title":"Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions","volume":"12","author":"Watkins","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Behav. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1002\/jts.22619","article-title":"Disturbed sleep connects symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and somatization: a network analysis approach","volume":"34","author":"Wright","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Trauma. Stress."},{"key":"ref42","author":"Zina","year":"2024"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1704684\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]],"date-time":"2025-12-11T06:35:55Z","timestamp":1765434955000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1704684\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]]},"references-count":47,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1704684"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1704684","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]]},"article-number":"1704684"}}