Prevalence and Associated Factors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Victims of the Eseka Train Disaster in Cameroon: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background Railway disasters, such as the one that occurred in Eseka on October 21st, 2016, can result in severe physical trauma and may predispose victims to mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objectives This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD among survivors and identify associated risk factors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study involving victims of the Eseka train disaster who received care at the Yaounde Emergency Center and Yaounde Central Hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic information, personal and family history of psychiatric disorders, details of physical injuries, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Results A total of 71 participants were enrolled, with a slight predominance of females (sex ratio 1.03). Statistically significant associations were found between PTSD and female gender (p = 0.004, OR = 4.32), student status (p = 0.02, OR = 4.48), and pelvic injury (p = 0.03, OR = 6.4). Nevertheless, multivariate analysis showed that only female gender had statistically significant association with PTSD (p = 0.03, adjusted OR = 3.87). Conclusion Approximately one-third of the Eseka train disaster survivors developed PTSD, underscoring the need for integrating long-term mental healthcare in disaster management systems in Cameroon. Further research is warranted on a larger and more inclusive cohort of the train disaster victims in order to consolidate our findings.