Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Volume 159, Issue 6, 2005, Pages 585-591

The "Lost Boys of Sudan": Functional and behavioral health of unaccompanied refugee minors resettled in the United States (Article) (Open Access)

Geltman P.L.* , Grant-Knight W. , Mehta S.D. , Lloyd-Travaglini C. , Lustig S. , Landgraf J.M. , Wise P.H.
  • a Department of Pediatrics, Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States, Whittier Street Health Center, 1125 Tremont St, Roxbury, MA 02120, United States
  • b Department of Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
  • c Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Data Coordination Center, Boston University, School of Public Health, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • f HealthAct Inc., Boston, MA, United States
  • g Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States, Centers for Health Policy and Primary Care Outcomes Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States

Abstract

Objective: To assess the functional and behavioral health of unaccompanied Sudanese refugee minors approximately 1 year after resettlement in the United States. Design: A descriptive survey. Setting: Local refugee foster care programs affiliated with the US Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program. Participants: A total of 304 Sudanese refugee minors enrolled in the US Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program. Main Outcome Measures: Health outcomes were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Child Health Questionnaire. Outcomes included the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and scores on all Child Health Questionnaire subscales and global single-item assessments. Results: Twenty percent of the minors had a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and were more likely to have lower (worse) scores on all the Child Health Questionnaire subscales. Low functional and behavioral health scores were seen mainly in functioning in the home and in subjective health ratings. Social isolation and history of personal injury were associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions: Unaccompanied Sudanese minors have done well in general. The minors function well in school and in activities; however, behavioral and emotional problems manifest in their home lives and emotional states. The subset of children with traumatic symptoms had characteristics that may distinguish them from their peers and that may inform future resettlement services for unaccompanied minors in the United States. ©2005 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

rating scale refugee psychological aspect Wounds and Injuries Sampling Studies mental health human psychologic assessment Refugees epidemiology war violence Sudan Foster Home Care social isolation priority journal health status controlled study child behavior ethnology United States health program Humans Adolescent male female Multivariate Analysis injury questionnaire scoring system Article Questionnaires migration posttraumatic stress disorder foster care Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic sample size health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-20644463219&doi=10.1001%2farchpedi.159.6.585&partnerID=40&md5=ce22fec57b6fc7a1f1d8e1dda818e451
DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.159.6.585
ISSN: 10724710
Cited by: 66
Original Language: English