A Scoping Review of the Intimate Partner Violence Literature Among Afghans Across Contexts.

The purpose of this scoping review was to ascertain the scope and nature of the literature focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) among Afghans across contexts, including Afghanistan. The scoping review adopted a systematic approach to search for, identify, and include peer-reviewed articles published in English. Fifty-two articles were retained in the final analysis, which generated results on IPV prevalence; multi-level risk and protective factors; qualitatively derived contextual factors; associations of IPV with adverse physical and psychological outcomes; IPV-related help-seeking behaviors; programs and interventions; the role of religion; IPV-related policies; and the role of fiction.

Community-Based Mental Health Challenges and Implications: Examining Factors Influencing Distress and Help-Seeking Behaviors among Korean American Church Leaders and Members in Greater Los Angeles.

There is limited research on the factors that impact mental distress among Korean American (KA) church leaders even though their unique social situation can create many barriers to seeking mental health assistance. This study compared factors impacting mental distress and help-seeking behaviors between KA church leaders (CLs) and church members (CMs) in the greater Los Angeles area. The respondents ( = 243) were mostly female, married, educated, first-generation immigrants with a mean age of 47.

Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions.

Background: Four decades of war, political upheaval, economic deprivation and forced displacement have profoundly affected both in-country and refugee Afghan populations.

Aims: We reviewed literature on mental health and psychosocial well-being, to assess the current evidence and describe mental healthcare systems, including government programmes and community-based interventions.

Method: In 2022, we conducted a systematic search in Google Scholar, PTSDpubs, PubMed and PsycINFO, and a hand search of grey literature ( = 214 papers).

Health disparities among Burmese diaspora: an integrative review.

Unlabelled: Tens of thousands of displaced Burmese ethnic minorities have endured various adversities for over six decades but are largely underserved. This study aimed to illuminate the health impacts of their misfortunes and unmet areas of concern. Using a holistic lens, we conducted an integrative review of 47 papers spanning the years 2004 to 2022 from diverse data sources.

A Qualitative Inquiry of Older Afghan Refugee Women's Individual and Sociocultural Factors of Health and Health Care Experiences in the United States.

Introduction: Approximately 132,000 Afghans have resettled in the United States since the 1980s and are now aging. As older adults, sociocultural factors influence health and health-related behaviors. This study aimed to explore older Afghan refugee women's perceptions of individual and sociocultural factors of health and health care experiences.

Prevalence and Social-Ecological Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in a Conflict Zone-Evidence From the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey.

This study examined the prevalence and social-ecological correlates of male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) in Afghanistan. Using data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey, which included 20,793 currently married women, we found that the past-year prevalence of physical IPV was highest (46%), followed by emotional (34%) and sexual forms (6%). Results also showed that the risk of IPV in general was associated with an array of community and societal-, family and relationship-, and person-level factors.

Acculturative stress, stigma, and mental health challenges: emic perspectives from Somali young adults in San Diego county's 'Little Mogadishu'.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the social factors that contribute to the mental health challenges that Somali young adults endure.

Design: In a two-phase qualitative approach carried-out in the San Diego area, in phase-I, we conducted exploratory interviews with key-informants including clinicians and local Somali leaders ( = 7) who are familiar with the challenges of young Somalis. This information was then augmented through a focus group discussion with Somali young adults ( = 4) to gain further contextual knowledge and for access to the larger community of young people for phase-II.

Ethnic Differences Among Black Men in Prostate Cancer Knowledge and Screening: a Mixed-Methods Study.

Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and mortality. Limited research has been reported on the ethnic differences among Black men in regard to family history, knowledge, and screening habits. Thus, this study was conducted to understand and compare knowledge levels and family history of the three main Black subgroups (African Americans, Caribbean immigrants, and African immigrants) in the USA and to assess the influence of knowledge on past screening behavior and intentionality for screening in the future for PCa.

African Immigrant Health: Prostate Cancer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Barriers.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among Black men who present with higher incidence, mortality, and survival compared to other racial groups. African immigrant men, however, are underrepresented in PCa research and thus this research sought to address that gap. This study applied a social determinants of health framework to understand the knowledge, perceptions, and behavioral tendencies regarding PCa in African immigrants.

Factors Influencing Formal and Informal Resource Utilization for Mental Distress Among Korean Americans in Southern California.

Despite the high prevalence of mental distress in the Korean American (KA) community, KAs continue to have significantly lower rates of professional mental health utilization than the general U.S. population, making it increasingly critical to study factors related to such utilization.

Beyond Resettlement: Sociocultural Factors Influencing Breast and Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Afghan Refugee Women.

Immigrants and refugees have an increased risk for developing chronic health conditions, such as breast and colorectal cancer, the longer they reside in the USA. Moreover, refugees are less even likely to use preventive health services like mammography and colonoscopy screening when compared with US-born counterparts. Focused ethnography was employed to examine sociocultural factors that influenced cancer screening behaviors among aging Afghan refugee women.

Prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghanistan.

Background: Limited evidence exists on the prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghanistan-a fragile post-war context where the tobacco epidemic is on the rise. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghan men and women.

Methods: Data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey of 10 760 men and 29 461 women were used to generate weighted prevalence estimates for smoking, smokeless tobacco (SLT) products including chew and snuff tobacco, 'any tobacco use' and 'dual tobacco use'.

Preventive Cancer Screening Among Resettled Refugee Women from Muslim-Majority Countries: A Systematic Review.

As refugee populations continue to age in the United States, there is a need to prioritize screening for chronic illnesses, including cancer, and to characterize how social and cultural contexts influence beliefs about cancer and screening behaviors. This study examines screening rates and socio-cultural factors influencing screening among resettled refugee women from Muslim-majority countries of origin. A systematic and integrative review approach was used to examine articles published from 1980 to 2019, using PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO.

Association between HIV knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV in Afghanistan: findings from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Afghanistan has witnessed a dramatic increase in HIV infections. Public health officials have responded with campaigns to educate the public about HIV prevention and transmission. We examine the association between HIV prevention and transmission knowledge and stigma towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Afghanistan.

Impact of Heart Disease Risk Factors, Respiratory Illness, Mastery, and Quality of Life on the Health Status of Individuals Living Near a Major Railyard in Southern California.

The potential health risks for communities that surround railyards have largely been understudied. Mastery and quality of life (QoL) have been associated with self-reported health status in the general population, but few studies have explored this variable among highly vulnerable low-income groups exposed to harmful air pollutants. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported health status and correlates of Heart Disease Risk Factors (HDRF) and Respiratory Illness (RI) with mastery and QoL acting as potential protective buffers.

Discrimination and distress among Afghan refugees in northern California: The moderating role of pre- and post-migration factors.

This study investigates the effect of perceived discrimination on the mental health of Afghan refugees, and secondly, tests the distress moderating effects of pre-migration traumatic experiences and post-resettlement adjustment factors. In a cross-sectional design, 259 Afghans completed surveys assessing perceived discrimination and a number of other factors using scales developed through inductive techniques. Multivariable analyses consisted of a series of hierarchical regressions testing the effect of perceived discrimination on distress, followed by a sequential analysis of moderator variables.

Risk and protective factors associated with the mental health of young adults in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Background: We examined the mental health status and severity of psychological distress symptoms among young adults residing in Kabul, Afghanistan and determined how such outcomes might be influenced by an array of risk and protective factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted using convenience, snowball, and street-intercept recruitment techniques. Surveys were completed by 232 young adults between 18 and 35 years of age in September 2015.

Effect of Perceived Discrimination on Depressive Symptoms in 1st- and 2nd-Generation Afghan-Americans.

While it is well established that Afghan refugees are disproportionately affected by mental health problems, limited evidence exists concerning the psychosocial needs of their children who are transitioning to adulthood in the United States; that is, of 1st- and 2nd-generation Afghan-Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived discrimination on depressive symptoms in this population, and to determine whether discrimination is buffered by ethnic identity and social support. A convenience sample of 133 1st- and 2nd-generation Afghan-Americans participated in this study by completing a brief survey.

Determinants of Health Care Services Utilization among First Generation Afghan Migrants in Istanbul.

There is insufficient empirical evidence on the correlates of health care utilization of irregular migrants currently living in Turkey. The aim of this study was to identify individual level determinants associated with health service and medication use. One hundred and fifty-five Afghans completed surveys assessing service utilization including encounters with primary care physicians and outpatient specialists in addition to the use of prescription and nonprescription medicines.

Gendered Sources of Distress and Resilience among Afghan Refugees in Northern California: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Recent studies have emphasized the influence of resettlement factors on the mental health of refugees resettling in developed countries. However, little research has addressed gender differences in the nature and influence of resettlement stressors and sources of resilience. We address this gap in knowledge by investigating how gender moderates and mediates the influence of several sources of distress and resilience among 259 Afghan refugees residing in Northern California (USA).

Contextualizing Afghan refugee views of depression through narratives of trauma, resettlement stress, and coping.

This qualitative study explored how Afghan refugees conceptualize frames of mind that may reflect depression in general and as it relates to trauma they experienced. We performed in-depth interviews with 18 Afghans residing in the San Diego area. Views regarding the causes, symptoms, and perceived treatments of depression were gathered through free-listing techniques, and supplemented with narratives relating to pre- and post-resettlement stressors and coping mechanisms.

Afghan Refugee Explanatory Models of Depression: Exploring Core Cultural Beliefs and Gender Variations.

Relatively little empirical attention has been paid to understanding how refugees conceptualize depression and how this concept varies between genders. The purpose of this study was to explore beliefs about depression among Afghans residing in San Diego County, California, using cultural consensus analysis. Using the prescribed mixed-method approach, we employed results from in-depth interviews to develop a culturally meaningful questionnaire about depression.

Correlates and Predictors of Psychological Distress among Afghan Refugees in San Diego County.

The psychological effects of war and resulting displacement continue to negatively impact Afghan refugees. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that are associated with and predict psychological distress symptoms among Afghan refugees. We analyzed data from a diverse sample of 130 Afghan refugees recruited through non-random sampling in the San Diego area.