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Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2/2019

01-04-2019 | Original Paper

A Health Profile and Overview of Healthcare Experiences of Cambodian American Refugees and Immigrants Residing in Southern California

Authors: Mienah Zulfacar Sharif, Kelly Biegler, Richard Mollica, Susan Elliot Sim, Elisa Nicholas, Maria Chandler, Quyen Ngo-Metzger, Kittya Paigne, Sompia Paigne, Dara H. Sorkin

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 2/2019

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Abstract

Asian Americans are understudied in health research and often aggregated into one homogenous group, thereby disguising disparities across subgroups. Cambodian Americans, one of the largest refugee communities in the United States, may be at high risk for adverse health outcomes. This study compares the health status and healthcare experiences of Cambodian American refugees and immigrants. Data were collected via questionnaires and medical records from two community clinics in Southern California (n = 308). Chi square and t-tests examined the socio-demographic differences between immigrants and refugees, and ANCOVA models compared the mean differences in responses for each outcome, adjusting for age at immigration, education level, and clinic site. Cambodian American refugees reported overall lower levels of health-related quality of life (all p’s < 0.05 in unadjusted models) and self-rated health [unadjusted means (SD) = 18.2 (16.8) vs. 21.7 (13.7), p < 0.05], but either similar or more positive healthcare experiences than Cambodian American immigrants. In adjusted analyses, refugees had higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk (e.g. heart condition and hypertension; p’s < 0.05) compared to Cambodian American immigrants. There were minimal differences in self-reported health behaviors between the two groups. There is a need for more health promotion efforts among Cambodian American refugees and immigrants to improve their health outcomes and perceived wellbeing.
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Metadata
Title
A Health Profile and Overview of Healthcare Experiences of Cambodian American Refugees and Immigrants Residing in Southern California
Authors
Mienah Zulfacar Sharif
Kelly Biegler
Richard Mollica
Susan Elliot Sim
Elisa Nicholas
Maria Chandler
Quyen Ngo-Metzger
Kittya Paigne
Sompia Paigne
Dara H. Sorkin
Publication date
01-04-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0736-3

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