Health and Human Rights
Volume 9, Issue 2, 2006, Pages 164-179

Evaluating asylum seekers/torture survivors in urban primary care: A collaborative approach at the Bronx Human Rights Clinic (Article)

Asgary R.G.* , Metalios E.E. , Smith C.L. , Paccione G.A.
  • a Department of Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
  • b Department of Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
  • c Department of Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
  • d Department of Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States

Abstract

Primary care providers who evaluate torture survivors often lack formal training to identify and address their specific needs. We assessed 89 asylum seekers from 30 countries to evaluate the pattern, spectrum, and presentation of abuses and the outcomes of the medico-legal process of seeking asylum. Commonly reported reasons for abuse were political opinion/activity (59%), ethnicity (42%), and religion (32%). The most common means of abuse were punching/kicking (79%), sharp objects (28%), genital electric shock (8%), witnessing murder/decapitation (8%), and rape (7%). Persistent psychological symptoms were common; 40% had post-traumatic stress disorder. The high success rate of asylum approval (79%) in this sample highlights the need for physician witnesses trained in identification and documentation of torture, working in collaboration with human rights organizations. Copyright © 2006 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

depression training refugee human Refugees middle aged health service Depressive Disorder Urban Health Services Human Rights Abuses human rights abuse human rights asylum seeker United States Humans Adolescent male female Article organization and management health care adult migration New York City posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Emigration and Immigration Physical Examination primary health care Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33846929475&doi=10.2307%2f4065406&partnerID=40&md5=dcd4152f21a15df1d8265fb333e94c0a
DOI: 10.2307/4065406
ISSN: 10790969
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English