Exposure to firearm: impact on psychological health in central India
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Date
2014-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Indian Journal of Community Health
Abstract
Background: The issue of firearm exposure is one of the widespread prevailing problems in today’s world but at
the same time it is least talked about. Its psychological effects vary from person to person and the degree of
consequences has many variables to measure. The firearm exposure not only implies to an individual but also
the whole gambit of social structures around him. Methods: A cross-section study on 505 subjects of the age
group 20-45 years from central India was done, where routine social order depends upon massive armament of
the citizen. We studied the relationship between socio-demographic variables and firearm exposure with
variables of psychological domain of the WHOQOL-BREF. Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed
to find the correlates among them. The objectives of the study were to study the attributes of socio demographic
variables, which affects psychological health and exposure to firearms in the study population and to see the
impact of exposure to firearms on psychological health. Results: Higher education is associated positively with
psychological health. The desire to have a gun (OR=1.988, CI 1.306-3.024, p-value <.005) is showing a significant
association with low psychological domain score of QOL. Being married (OR=.556, CI .344-.901, p-value <.005)
and not Living in a joint family (OR=.581, CI .379-.891, p-value <.005) is associated with poor psychological health.
Conclusions: Higher education is the best predictor for good psychological health. Semiskilled workers (farmers
and laborers) should be prioritized as high risk groups for adverse life situations. Firearm exposures have a
significant impact on psychological health. So, policies directed at rural population should target at specific needs
of community.
Description
Keywords
Firearms; Psychological Health; Mental Health; Gun
Citation
Saxena S, Varma RP, Soman B. Exposure to firearm: impact on psychological health in central India. Ind J Comm Health, 25(4); 413 - 421