OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional, community-based, epidemiological study characterized Somali and Ethiopian (Oromo) refugees in Minnesota to determine torture prevalence and associated problems. METHODS: A comprehensive questionnaire was developed, then administered by trained ethnic interviewers to a nonprobability sample of 1134. Measures assessed torture techniques; traumatic events; and social, physical, and psychological problems, including posttraumatic stress symptoms. RESULTS: Torture prevalence ranged from 25% to 69% by ethnicity and gender, higher than usually reported. Unexpectedly, women were tortured as often as men. Torture survivors had more health problems, including posttraumatic stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need to recognize torture in African refugees, especially women, identify indicators of posttraumatic stress in torture survivors, and provide additional resources to care for tortured refugees.
OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional, community-based, epidemiological study characterized Somali and Ethiopian (Oromo) refugees in Minnesota to determine torture prevalence and associated problems. METHODS: A comprehensive questionnaire was developed, then administered by trained ethnic interviewers to a nonprobability sample of 1134. Measures assessed torture techniques; traumatic events; and social, physical, and psychological problems, including posttraumatic stress symptoms. RESULTS: Torture prevalence ranged from 25% to 69% by ethnicity and gender, higher than usually reported. Unexpectedly, women were tortured as often as men. Torture survivors had more health problems, including posttraumatic stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need to recognize torture in African refugees, especially women, identify indicators of posttraumatic stress in torture survivors, and provide additional resources to care for tortured refugees.
Authors: Marline Spring; Joseph Westermeyer; Linda Halcon; Kay Savik; Cheryl Robertson; David R Johnson; James N Butcher; James Jaranson Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: V Iacopino; M W Frank; H M Bauer; A S Keller; S L Fink; D Ford; D J Pallin; R Waldman Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2001-12 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: N M Shrestha; B Sharma; M Van Ommeren; S Regmi; R Makaju; I Komproe; G B Shrestha; J T de Jong Journal: JAMA Date: 1998-08-05 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Michael Hollifield; Teddy D Warner; Nityamo Lian; Barry Krakow; Janis H Jenkins; James Kesler; Jayne Stevenson; Joseph Westermeyer Journal: JAMA Date: 2002-08-07 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Tracy A Becerra; Ondine S von Ehrenstein; Julia E Heck; Jorn Olsen; Onyebuchi A Arah; Shafali S Jeste; Michael Rodriguez; Beate Ritz Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2014-07 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Michael A Grodin; Linda Piwowarczyk; Derek Fulker; Alexander R Bazazi; Robert B Saper Journal: J Altern Complement Med Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 2.579
Authors: Melissa K Filippi; Babalola Faseru; Martha Baird; Florence Ndikum-Moffor; K Allen Greiner; Christine M Daley Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2014-04
Authors: Sondra S Crosby; Marie Norredam; Michael K Paasche-Orlow; Linda Piwowarczyk; Tim Heeren; Michael A Grodin Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2006-07 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Carrie Henning-Smith; Tetyana P Shippee; Donna McAlpine; Rachel Hardeman; Farhiya Farah Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-03-14 Impact factor: 9.308