Health+and+wellbeing

This paper provides a critical examination of how two independent groups of social scientists, committed to the philosophy of advocacy, researched the experiences of resettling refugee women from Horn of African and Middle Eastern countries in Australia and New Zealand.
 * Advocacy as a Means to an End: Assisting Refugee Women to Take Control of Their Reproductive Health Needs (2006)**
 * Authors: Alloty, P., Guerin, P., Hussein, F.**
 * Publisher: The Haworth Press**

This report highlights the barriers facing people from refugee background communities in achieving and maintaining good health. Information in this report was gathered at four focus groups held in May 2011 with 11 different refugee-background communities. Participants identified the main barriers during the focus groups and also made a number of suggestions on how to reduce these barriers and improve their health.
 * Barriers to acheiving good health outcomes in Refugee background communities- a report prepared for Regional Public Health and the Department of Labour (2011)**
 * Authors: O'Donovan, T., Bloom, A, and Sheikh, M.**
 * Publisher: ChangeMakers Refugee Forum**

The report presents two case studies - Umma Trust and Second Chance - of community initiatives addressing family violence in refugee and migrant communities and the research aims to help fill the identified gap in New Zealand research on community-based programmes and family violence in refugee and migrant communities.The purpose was to learn from those involved in addressing family violence in refugee and migrant communities, and to get the voice of communities heard.
 * Case Studies of Community Initiatives addressing family violence in refugee and migrant communities (2011)**
 * Authors: Levine, M and Benkert, N.**
 * Publisher: Ministry of Social Development**

Please contact the New Zealand Medical Journal for this report.
 * Christchurch earthquakes: how did former refugees cope? (2012)**
 * Authors: Osman, M., Hornblow, A., Macleod, S and Coope, P.**
 * Publisher: New Zealand Medical Journal**

This report explore clinicians’ perceptions of the communication difficulties experienced with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients and the clinical risks these difficulties pose in hospitals, as well as patterns of interpreter use among these clinicians.
 * Communication difficulties with limited English proficiency patients: clinician perceptions of clinical risk and patterns of use of interpreters (2011)**
 * author: Gray, B., Stanley, J., Stubbe, M and Hilder, J.**
 * Publisher: New Zealand Medical Association**

This research aims to increase understanding of refugee youths’ experiences of mental health services in New Zealand. The study makes a useful contribution to clinical practice by illuminating factors influencing the mental health of refugee youth. It also highlights opportunities for addressing challenges refugee youth and their families face when accessing services in response to mental health concerns.
 * Developing Culturally Responsive services for working with refugee youth with mental health concerns (2008)**
 * Author: Maharaj-S. A., Nayar, S and Choummanivong, C.**
 * Publisher:Te Pou, The National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development.**

The common health issues of people from refugee backgrounds are well documented. However, little is known about the health care utilisation and health outcomes of this population once they have re-settled in New Zealand. The objective of this study is to quantitatively describe morbidity and mortality outcomes and the level of health service utilisation of people from refugee backgrounds in New Zealand.
 * Descriptive epidemiology of refugee health in New Zealand (2009) **
 * Authors: Chan, W.C., Peters, J., Martin, R., Saunders, H.**
 * Publisher: Auckland Regional Public Health Service**

Refugee and migrant communities are not a homogenous group but are cohort with many different needs, and it is difficult to communicate the health needs of this cohort to a host population that is still largely ignorant of the generic needs of the whole ‘migrant’ population. This research comprises of a demographic report, a literature review and results compiled from interviews and focus groups.
 * Elderly refugees and migrants: Health needs and recommendations (2008)**
 * Author: Mhlanga, F.**
 * Publisher: Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust**

Little is known about the health practices of refugee groups in New Zealand. This research aimed to provide an overview of the reported health status and the barriers to health service utilisation of Somali refugees in Hamilton.
 * Experiences with medical and health systems for Somali refugees living in Hamilton (2003)**
 * Authors: Abdi, A., Guerin, B., Guerin, P.**
 * University of Waikato/Ministry of Education**

The study identifies key health promotion challenges faced by New Zealand African communities. Using a phenomenological approach, it critically examines the meanings and experiences of participants on health promotion. The use of phenomenological approach enabled participants to share their 'lived' experiences regarding the health promotion challenges within African communities in New Zealand. The thesis also includes ethno-methodology to help understand how cultural norms, values, beliefs and practices impact on awareness and acceptance of health promotion practices by African individuals and communities in New Zealand.
 * Health promotion challenges within African communities in New Zealand (2012)**
 * Authors: Tuwe, Kudakwashe**
 * Publisher: AUT University**

This health needs assessment provides the following information on Middle Eastern, Latin American and African populations residing in the Auckland region: demography; socio-economic determinants of health; population health status and health status inequalities; patterns of health service utilisation and areas of unmet health needs.
 * Health needs assessment of Middle Eastern, Latin American and African people living in the Auckland region (2010)**
 * Author: Perumal, L.**
 * Publisher: Auckland District Health Board**

New Zealand is becoming more ethnically diverse, and consequently there are more primary consultations where patients have insufficient English to communicate adequately. This paper describes a toolkit and provides evidence that effective communication is essential for good care, and argues that every consultation with LEP patients requires clinical judgement as to the type of interpreting needed.
 * How to use interpreters in general practice: the development of a New Zealand toolkit (2012)**
 * Author: Gray, B**
 * Publisher: J Prim Health Care**

To conduct this research, ChangeMakers interviewed people from refugee backgrounds who either have a disability or are caring for someone with a disability, and spoke with staff from Wellington-based disability, health, and refugee service delivery organisations.The report highlights the lived experience of people from refugee backgrounds with disability needs, as well as outlining the factors needed for people from refugee backgrounds with disability needs to enjoy their rights to clear communication, comprehensive support and full participation in daily life.
 * [|'If we have to go on our own, so be it.' The challenges faced accessing disability support services by Wellington's refugee-background communities (2012)]**
 * Author: Bloom, Alia.**
 * Publisher: ChangeMakers Refugee Forum**

The study aims to identify the impact(s) of the immigrant population, that is increasing in size and diversity, on primary health services use and demand, the language and cultural limitations or difficulties experienced by primary health care services providing care to immigrant patients. It also Identifies the resources currently available and needed to effectively provide care for immigrant patients, and the implications for both the training and continuing education of health care professionals.
 * Immigrant Patients and Primary Health Care services in Auckland and Wellington - a survey of service providers (2006)**
 * Authors: North, N., Lovell, S and Trlin, A.**
 * Publisher: New Settlers Programme, Massey University**

This workshop presented at the AUT Refugee Health and Wellbeing Conference highlighted a collaborative partnership between the Mental Health Foundation of NZ, Refugee Services abd the Somali Federation Community Inc. in early 2009. The project delivered an education and empowerment programmes on stress and resilience that was delivered to two older grouop (men and women) from the Somali Community in Auckland.
 * Improving the Wellbeing of older members of Refugee communities through collaborative partnerships and sustainable solutions (2010)**
 * Athours: Little, D., Mohamed, A and Conway J.**
 * Publisher : AUT Refugee Health and Wellbeing**

‘Cultural competence’ has been in the spotlight with recent documents released by the Medical Council and the RNZCGP. The omission of any reference to the use of interpreters means that the needs of those who speak limited English are inadequately addressed. The article argues that we should separate out the two issues of ‘The Treaty of Waitangi’ and ‘cultural safety’ in order respond to the need of this group.
 * Managing the cross- cultural consultation - the importance of cultural safety (2008)**
 * Author: Gray, B.**
 * Publisher: New Zealand Family Physician**

This report looks at the mental health problems experienced by migrant and refugee populations, and discusses the key issues influencing the health delivery system targeting migrant and refugee communities.
 * Mental health services for migrant and refugee communities in Christchurch (2008) **
 * Authors: Tse, S., Ekramul H., Sobrun-Maharaj, A. & Kim, S. **
 * Publisher: Centre for Asian Health Research and Evaluation, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland**

**PhD thesis: University of Auckland** In this thesis the researcher explore the lived experience of TB within the Somali refugee community in Auckland, New Zealand. While migrants and refugees are frequently blamed for the resurgence in TB in Western countries, very little is known about the determinants that underlie this manifestation of the disease.
 * Placing the lived experience(s) of TB in a refugee community in Auckland, New Zealand (2007) **
 * Author: Lawrence, J. **

**Masters Thesis: Victoria University of Wellington** This study investigates 1) the nature of religious discrimination experienced by Muslim women in New Zealand and 2) the influence of perceived religious discrimination and differing facets of Islamic identity (psychological, behavioural and visible) on the psychological wellbeing (life satisfaction and psychological symptoms) of 153 Muslim women.
 * Persevere in adversity: Perceived religious discrimination and Islamic identity as predictors of psychological wellbeing in Muslim women in New Zealand (2009)**
 * Author: Jasperse, M.**

This article looks at the role of public institutions in New Zealand, in this case the public health system, in the integration of refugees. The study shows that, for refugee groups, the health sector has developed responses to local needs and demands in highly specific health care settings that are often poorly resourced. Of interest in the study are the interactions between the health practitioners and provider organisations advocating for better services for refugee groups, and the institutional responses to the issues raised by health providers.
 * Public health system responsiveness to refugee groups in New Zealand: Activation from the bottom up (2011)**
 * Author: Mortensen, A.**
 * Publisher: Northen DHB Support Agency**

This report is for all agencies providing health and wellbeing services. It aims to ensure that the needs of former refugees resettling in New Zealand are included in all aspects of the development and provision of those agencies’ health and wellbeing services. The report presents the changes in findings, in 5 key areas, between the baseline knowledge, attitude and practice survey and a follow-up survey, after implementation of a 10-month long health education programme.
 * Red Cross refugee health and wellbeing report 2013**

Te Pou was commissioned by the Ministry of Health to develop a research agenda that would identify mental health and addiction research priorities for New Zealand's refugee and migrant population. Among its recommendations, the report calls for increased knowledge about effective responses to the health needs of refugee and migrants, in order to influence promotion, policy and service delivery in New Zealand.
 * Refugee and Migrant Mental Health and Addiction Research Agenda for New Zealand 2008-2012 **
 * Author: Te Pou, The National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development. **
 * Publisher: Te Pou o Te Whakaaro Nui: The National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development **

This thesis draws on theoretical models of newcomer integration in order to promote the development of a more inclusive society for refugees in New Zealand. The study indicates that New Zealand’s notably humanitarian refugee resettlement policy is not matched by adequate central government and public institutional responses and resources with which to integrate refugee groups. This research demonstrates the consequences of overlooking refugee peoples in New Zealand social policy, data collection systems, research and health strategies, and highlights future opportunities for the inclusion of refugee groups.
 * Refugees as 'others': Social and cultural citizenship rights for refugees in New Zealand health services (2008) **
 * Author: Mortensen, A. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PhD thesis: Massey University **

The Wellington Refugees as Survivors Trust (WNRAS) commissioned this annotated bibliography to provide an overview of Aotearoa New Zealand and international literature relating to rights-based approaches to mental health services with former refugees. This resource is intended to support therapy services and advocacy by providing summaries of relevant documents that inform and/or explain the increasing shift from welfare-based models of mental health care towards rights-based models.
 * Rights-based approaches to mental health services with refugees: An annotated bibliography (2010)**
 * Author: Bloom, A.**
 * Publisher: ChangeMakers Refugee Forum**

The Somali population in New Zealand is a rapidly growing one that should be of interest to mental health professionals due to their experience of resettlement stressors and the refugee histories of many Somali. Many factors contribute to barriers and difficulties between mental health professionals and Somali clientele. This paper present here some of the cultural and religious issues influencing Somali conceptions and expectations about mental health services in an attempt to reduce barriers and difficulties.
 * Somali Conceptions and Expectations: Concerning Mental Health: Some guidelines for mental health professionals (2004**
 * Authors: Diiriye, R.O., Guerin, B., Guerin, P., Yates, S.**
 * University of Waikato**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This study underlines the complexity of adult refugees’ coping processes as well as some of the institutional constraints hindering their adaptation progress which can result in mental distress. Research also highlights strategic issues that need to be addressed for improving the current situation of refugees resettled in New Zealand.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The coping processes of adult refugees resettled in New Zealand (2008) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Author: Pahud, M. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PhD thesis: University of Canterbury **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Newly arrived refugees spend the first six weeks at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland, which has several agencies that prepare people for life in New Zealand. Among the agencies is a Medical Clinic, which provides health screening, and management of any medical problems found. This paper describes the findings of a health screening programme for these refugees.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The health status of quota refugees screened by New Zealand’s Auckland Public Health Service between 1995-2000 (2005) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Authors: McLeod, A. & Reeve, M. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Publisher: The New Zealand Medical Journal **

Approximately 1500 to 1800 applications for refugee status are made to the New Zealand Immigration Service each year. Approximately one third of these asylum seekers receive health screening from Auckland Public Health. This study reports key findings from this screening programme for the period 1999 to 2000.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The health status of asylum seekers screened by Auckland public health in 1999 and 2000 (2002) **
 * Authors: Hobbs M., Moor, C., Wansbrough T and Calder, L.**
 * Publisher: The New Zealand Medical Journal**

The aim of this research is to describe the current utilisation of interpreter services in general practice in Canterbury, New Zealand and to identify key barriers and enablers to the use of interpreter services. = = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Publisher: Paediatrics & Child Health, RACP** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The primary aim of this document is to advocate for timely and high quality health care for every refugee child and young person living in Australia and New Zealand.
 * The use of interpreter services in general practice in Canterbury (2012). **
 * Authors: Seers, K., Cook, L., Abel, G., Schluter, P and Bridgford, P. **
 * Summer studentship Report **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Towards better health for refugee children and young people in Australia and New Zealand (2007) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Author: The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) **

Populations with increased skin pigmentation who have migrated to countries of high latitude are at increased risk of low vitamin D. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low vitamin D and carried out an audit of all refugees arriving at the national refugee resettlement centre from May 2004 to May 2005 <span style="font-family: 'AdvPSMER-R','serif'; font-size: 9px;">. Poor vitamin D status was prevalent among refugees arriving, and particularly women of child-bearing age were at greatest risk. Screening and ongoing surveillance for vitamin D deficiency should be considered for all recent refugee immigrants to New Zealand. This paper reviews the literature on medical interpreter use and reports the results of a week-long audit of interpreted consultations in an urban New Zealand primary health centre with a high proportion of refugee and migrant patients. Australia and New Zealand have free telephone interpreters services at a cost the practice, but it is underused in both countries. Although interpreter guidelines warn against the use of family members, the lack of uptake of interpreter services must mean that they are still often used.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vitamin D deficiency in a multidimensional refugee population (2007) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Authors: Wishart, H. D., Reeve, M. A and Grant C. C. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Publisher: Internal Medicine Journal **
 * Why do we not use trained interpreters for all patients with limited English proficiency? Is there a place for using family members? (2011)**
 * Authors: Gray, B., Hilder, J and Donaldson, H.**
 * Publisher: Australian Journal of Public Health**