Issues in Mental Health Nursing
Volume 40, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 310-316

Measuring Distress Levels of Refugee Women to Enhance Community-Based Psycho-social Interventions (Article)

Felsman I.C.* , Humphreys J.C. , Kronk R.
  • a Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, United States
  • b Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, United States
  • c Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to gain an understanding of the levels of distress in resettled refugee women as a basis for the development of improved community based interventions to enhance the resettlement experience. A convenience sample of female refugees (n = 23) in a southern US city were interviewed using a socio-demographic questionnaire; the Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15); and semi-structured, exploratory questions. Results showed consistently high levels of distress, indicated by responses to the RHS-15. Women ages 19–25 and over 50 displayed the highest risk. Categories of stressors included a lack of access to health and psycho-social support services, difficulty with communicating in the English language, and social isolation. In addition, women reported that a lack of trained interpreters contributes to reduced access to health and social service, causing further distress. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059945537&doi=10.1080%2f01612840.2018.1543744&partnerID=40&md5=c3936f00c0bb31eb04ccec50ab684fd6

DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1543744
ISSN: 01612840
Original Language: English