Citation

Jaranson JM, Butcher J, Halcon L, Johnson DR, Robertson C, Savik K, Spring M, Westermeyer J. Am. J. Public Health 2004; 94(4): 591-598.

Affiliation

HealthPartners Division of Behavioral Health and the Department of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55454, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15054011

PMCID

PMC1448304

Abstract

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.

Language: en