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Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health: a mixed-methods study among Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Keys, HM; Kaiser, BN; Foster, JW; Burgos Minaya, RY; Kohrt, BA
Published in: Ethn Health
2015

OBJECTIVE: Many Haitian migrants live and work as undocumented laborers in the Dominican Republic. This study examines the legacy of anti-Haitian discrimination in the Dominican Republic and association of discrimination with mental health among Haitian migrants. DESIGN: This study used mixed methods to generate hypotheses for associations between discrimination and mental health of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 Haitian and 18 Dominican community members and clinicians. One hundred and twenty-seven Haitian migrants participated in a pilot cross-sectional community survey. Instruments included culturally adapted Kreyòl versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and a locally developed function impairment scale. RESULTS: Haitian migrants described humiliation (imilyasyon) as a reason for mental distress and barrier to health care. Dominicans reported that discrimination (discriminación) was not a current social problem and attributed negative social interactions to sociocultural, behavioral, and biological differences between Dominicans and Haitians. These qualitative findings were supported in the quantitative analyses. Perceived discrimination was significantly associated with depression severity and functional impairment. Perceived mistreatment by Dominicans was associated with a 6.6-point increase in BDI score (90% confidence interval [CI]: 3.29, 9.9). Knowing someone who was interrogated or deported was associated with a 3.4-point increase in BAI score (90% CI: 0.22, 6.64). CONCLUSION: Both qualitative and quantitative methods suggest that perceived discrimination and the experience of humiliation contribute to Haitian migrant mental ill-health and limit access to health care. Future research should evaluate these associations and identify intervention pathways for both improved treatment access and reduction of discrimination-related health risk factors.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ethn Health

DOI

EISSN

1465-3419

Publication Date

2015

Volume

20

Issue

3

Start / End Page

219 / 240

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Transients and Migrants
  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prejudice
  • Pilot Projects
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Keys, H. M., Kaiser, B. N., Foster, J. W., Burgos Minaya, R. Y., & Kohrt, B. A. (2015). Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health: a mixed-methods study among Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. Ethn Health, 20(3), 219–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2014.907389
Keys, Hunter M., Bonnie N. Kaiser, Jennifer W. Foster, Rosa Y. Burgos Minaya, and Brandon A. Kohrt. “Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health: a mixed-methods study among Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic.Ethn Health 20, no. 3 (2015): 219–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2014.907389.
Keys HM, Kaiser BN, Foster JW, Burgos Minaya RY, Kohrt BA. Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health: a mixed-methods study among Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. Ethn Health. 2015;20(3):219–40.
Keys, Hunter M., et al. “Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health: a mixed-methods study among Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic.Ethn Health, vol. 20, no. 3, 2015, pp. 219–40. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/13557858.2014.907389.
Keys HM, Kaiser BN, Foster JW, Burgos Minaya RY, Kohrt BA. Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health: a mixed-methods study among Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. Ethn Health. 2015;20(3):219–240.

Published In

Ethn Health

DOI

EISSN

1465-3419

Publication Date

2015

Volume

20

Issue

3

Start / End Page

219 / 240

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Transients and Migrants
  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Prejudice
  • Pilot Projects
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic