TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical Correlates of Torture Exposure in Karen Refugees
AU - Hoffman, Sarah J.
AU - Robertson, Cheryl L.
AU - Shannon, Patricia J.
AU - Cook, Tonya L.
AU - Letts, James
AU - Mathiason, Michelle A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2017/2/17
Y1 - 2017/2/17
N2 - We explored associations between torture history and physical health symptoms of 111 Karen refugees newly arrived to the United States. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic health data collected at the initial refugee health-screening exam. Unique to this analysis was the exploration of relationships between torture exposure, war trauma, and presenting physical and psychological health issues. We identified no unique effects of torture on physical health above and beyond trauma exposure. Overall, in our sample we found a high prevalence of underlying infectious conditions, pain, and hypercholesterolemia, regardless of torture exposure. We discuss effects of war trauma and torture experiences on physical exam findings and implications for future research.
AB - We explored associations between torture history and physical health symptoms of 111 Karen refugees newly arrived to the United States. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic health data collected at the initial refugee health-screening exam. Unique to this analysis was the exploration of relationships between torture exposure, war trauma, and presenting physical and psychological health issues. We identified no unique effects of torture on physical health above and beyond trauma exposure. Overall, in our sample we found a high prevalence of underlying infectious conditions, pain, and hypercholesterolemia, regardless of torture exposure. We discuss effects of war trauma and torture experiences on physical exam findings and implications for future research.
KW - Burma
KW - Karen refugee
KW - Myanmar
KW - health
KW - torture
KW - war trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84982806336&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/15325024.2016.1212609
DO - 10.1080/15325024.2016.1212609
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84982806336
SN - 1532-5024
VL - 22
SP - 135
EP - 149
JO - Journal of Loss and Trauma
JF - Journal of Loss and Trauma
IS - 2
ER -