title: Factors Associated with Symptoms of Depression Among Bhutanese Refugees in the United States.
abstract: Refugees are at risk for psychiatric morbidity, yet little is known about their mental health conditions. We identified factors associated with depression symptoms among Bhutanese refugees in the US. We randomly selected adult Bhutanese refugees (N = 386) to complete a cross-sectional survey concerning demographics, mental health symptoms, and associated risk factors. The case definition for depression symptoms was ≥1.75 mean depression score on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. More women (26%) than men (16%) reported depression symptoms (p = 0.0097). Higher odds of depression symptoms were associated with being a family provider, self-reported poor health, and inability to read and write Nepali (OR 4.6, 39.7 and 4.3, respectively) among men; and self-reported poor health and inability to read and write Nepali (OR 7.6, and 2.6 respectively) among women. US-settled Bhutanese refugees are at risk for depression. Providers should be aware of these concerns. Culturally appropriate mental health services should be made more accessible at a local level.
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. kdy1@cdc.gov.|CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program, Atlanta, GA, USA. kdy1@cdc.gov.|United States Public Health Service, Washington, DC, USA. kdy1@cdc.gov.|Quarantine and Border Health Services Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 701 5th Ave, Suite 1600, Rm 1630, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA. kdy1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vonnahme
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. emily.wheeler@alumni.rice.edu.|Epidemic Intelligence Service, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. emily.wheeler@alumni.rice.edu.
authors.forename: Emily W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Lankau
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. tfa8@cdc.gov.|Epidemic Intelligence Service, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. tfa8@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Trong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. acq1@cdc.gov.|United States Public Health Service, Washington, DC, USA. acq1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Sharmila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. bhc8@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Barbara Lopes
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Cardozo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology; D001631:Bhutan / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D000067010:Literacy; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Mental health; Refugee health; Refugees