title: "Can it be that god does not remember me": a qualitative study on the psychological distress, suffering, and coping of Dominican women with chronic filarial lymphedema and elephantiasis of the leg.
abstract: The psychological states of Dominican women with chronic lymphedema and elephantiasis of the leg and the coping strategies they used to ameliorate the negative psychological effects of this condition were explored using modified precepts of grounded theory method. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviewing and focus group discussions held in the Dominican Republic. Thematic results found that compounding their physical disfigurement, functional limitations, and social losses were feelings of depression, embarrassment, social isolation, and despair. Adaptive problem solving and emotion-focused coping strategies that emerged during analysis also are discussed. It is recommended that management of psychological distress should be a significant component of lymphedema management programs in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. BEP2@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Bobbie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Person
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addiss
authors.forename: L Kay
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pou
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonzálvez
authors.forename: Bart Van Den
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Borne
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000469:parasitology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires