Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume 191, Issue 12, 2003, Pages 813-819

Sampling in Difficult to Access Refugee and Immigrant Communities (Article)

Spring M.* , Westermeyer J. , Halcon L. , Savik K. , Robertson C. , Johnson D.R. , Butcher J.N. , Jaranson J.
  • a Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, 1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55454, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Department of Psychiatry, Vet. Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • c Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, 1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55454, United States, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Academic Health Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • d School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Academic Health Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • e School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Academic Health Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • f Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Department of Psychiatry, Vet. Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Center for Victims of Torture, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • g Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Division of Behavioral Health, HealthPartners/Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN, United States
  • h Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, 1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55454, United States, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States

Abstract

We evaluated sampling strategies and trust-building activities in a large multiphase epidemiologic study of torture prevalence in populations that were difficult to locate and enroll. Refugee groups under study were Somalis from Somalia and Oromos from Ethiopia who were living in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1999-2002. Without a complete sampling frame from which to randomly recruit participants, we employed purposive sampling methods. Through comparative and statistical analyses, we found no apparent differences between our sample and the underlying population and discovered no effects of recruiting methods on study outcomes, suggesting that the sample could be analyzed with confidence. Ethnographic trust and rapport-building activities among investigators, field staff, and immigrant communities made it possible to obtain the sample and gather sensitive data. Maintaining a culture of trust was crucial in recovering from damaging environmental events that threatened data collection.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

statistical analysis immigrant refugee sampling Sampling Studies Statistics, Nonparametric human Refugees ethnic group mental disease United States epidemiological data Humans male Chi-Square Distribution female Multivariate Analysis Article Ethiopia major clinical study adult Social Environment Somalia data analysis Emigration and Immigration patient selection Analysis of Variance Data Collection
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0346118812&doi=10.1097%2f01.nmd.0000100925.24561.8f&partnerID=40&md5=592db3dc755b9d0887b9bd7c0918931c
DOI: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000100925.24561.8f
ISSN: 00223018
Cited by: 57
Original Language: English