Prevalence and Correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Teachers in Bandit-Prone Areas of Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

Banditry in Baringo County, Kenya, poses severe security challenges, affecting social and educational systems. This study investigates the prevalence and correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among teachers in these conflict-affected areas, guided by Frustration-Aggression Theory. A mixedmethods design was used to collect quantitative data from 384 teachers using PCL-5 and DASS-21 instruments, complemented by qualitative interviews. Results indicate high PTSD prevalence across intrusion (98.96%), avoidance (90.10%), negative cognition/mood (94.53%), and arousal/reactivity (95.31%) clusters, with 87.25% meeting criteria for probable PTSD. Themes of professional identity erosion, persistent trauma responses, and psychosocial strain emerged. The study emphasizes the need for traumainformed interventions, institutional safety measures, and policy support to safeguard teacher welfare and educational stability.