Effects of Armed Conflict on Children’s Health: The Case of Libertad, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, Philippines

Abstract

This study describes the effects of August 18, 2008 hostilities on the health of twentyfour selected children in Libertad, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Derived through interviews, the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon tied ranks test while the qualitative ones were thematically analyzed. While these children were not directly hurt, they have witnessed and experienced the consequences of bombing, burning, and looting of houses, human killing and mutilation, and rape of a pregnant woman by the politically-motivated MILF perpetrators of the August 18, 2008 attack in their community. The Wilcoxon tied ranks test of differences in children's health before, during, and after the attack yielded significant effects on their physical, mental and social health. Children experienced sleeping difficulties, showed signs of depression and learning difficulties. Findings suggest that the harrowing experiences of children during the MILF attack have resulted in stress and trauma affecting their mental conditions and social skills preventing them from interacting with people outside their family. The findings of this study validate the assumptions of Gerhardt’s Psychosocial perspective and the Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Richard Lazarus which postulates that the emotional reactions of individuals experiencing traumatic events may depend on how they perceive the situation.