Afghan Refugee Health: Some Findings and Suggestions

Abstract

Health problems are often associated with migration, particularly for refugees from such war-torn countries as Afghanistan. This article reports findings of an ethnographic study of Afghan refugees in Northern California. Participant observation and various informal and semistructured interviews of 29 refugees revealed difficulties in social support, cultural conflict, language, economics, and family adjustment. These difficulties, added to traumatic refugee flight sequelae, were expressed in psychosomatic symptoms and high stress scores as indicated by the Health Opinion Survey, which elicits psychosomatic indications of stress. These themes suggest needs for culturally appropriate health and social services.