Physical Correlates of Torture Exposure in Karen Refugees

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Burma
• health
• Karen refugee
• Myanmar
• torture
• war trauma

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the participants who made this study possible. We thank our interpreter for her patience and perseverance. We also wish to thank the HealthEast Care System for its thoughtful perspective on the protection of human subjects, as well as for the resources allocated, which made this project feasible.

Notes

¹Our definition of war trauma is consistent with the definition used in the study preceding this work (Shannon et al., 2014).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah J. Hoffman

Sarah J. Hoffman is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Her research interests include the human health experience at the intersection of forced migration and human rights.

Cheryl L. Robertson

Cheryl L. Robertson is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and chair of the Population Health and Systems Cooperative. Her research interests include refugee trauma, stress and coping, community-based coping interventions, and eco-health strategies in Central and Eastern Africa.

Patricia J. Shannon

Patricia J. Shannon is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, and a research associate at the Center for Victims of Torture, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her research interests include refugee mental health and trauma.

Tonya L. Cook

Tonya L. Cook is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Her primary research interest is refugee studies.

James Letts

James Letts is in family medicine at the HealthEast Care System, St. Paul. His primary research interest is the medical care of refugees.

Michelle A. Mathiason

Michelle A. Mathiason is a statistician at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.