A Community Based Participatory Research Initiative Addressing Alcohol Use in the Refugee Population from Burma

Join us as this presenter discusses this poster live on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 | Track C at 4:55 PM Mountain

PRESENTER
BENJAMIN P. FULLER
Medical Student, University of Colorado School of Medicine
BACKGROUND
The country of Burma (Myanmar) has been riddled with conflict, strife, and sectarian violence for over 30 years. Since 2006, the United States has taken in just over 150,000 refugees from Burma, of which an estimated 5,000 reside in Colorado. Once granted refugee status in the United States, the challenges that this population faces are enormous, including finding sustainable employment, affordable housing, and the lack of access to culturally competent healthcare. The newfound challenges of refugee life can be incredibly taxing both physically and mentally. When previous mental stressors, such as exposure to trauma in their home country, are combined with these newfound challenges, refugees are over two times more likely to exhibit Substance Abuse Disorder as defined by DSM-IV. The specific purpose of this study is to assess the effects of alcohol use on the local refugee population from Burma and formulate an appropriate intervention utilizing a community based participatory research (CBPR) model.
SETTING
This research was undertaken in full partnership with the refugee community from Burma and its stakeholders in the greater Denver area.
METHODS
A multiphase community-based participatory research model was utilized to conduct this research. True to the CBRP model, the first phase was establishing a partnership with the community, and subsequent identification of an issue ripe for intervention. A group of young adults from the refugee community were recruited to form the Youth Advisory Board. They identified alcohol use as the dominant health-related concern within their own community. With this issue identified, the project moved into phase two. Phase two involved conducting semi-structured one-on-one, audio-recorded interviews with members of the refugee community from Burma. The data from these interviews was then analyzed using immersion crystallization methodology. The next phase to be undertaken is presentation of the findings to the community and generation of a culturally competent intervention.
RESULTS
The analysis of the ten audio-recorded surveys showed the emergence of several qualitative themes related to the use of alcohol within this community. The use of alcohol as a coping mechanism for the stressors of refugee life is highly prevalent among males and this has a direct negative impact upon the family unit. In addition, there is a sense of personal responsibility and a lack of resources aiding cessation within the community.
CONCLUSIONS
This project expands upon current literature regarding the scope and impact of alcohol use within the community of refugees from Burma. In partnership with the community and its stakeholders, the qualitative themes generated from this research have identified a need for a culturally appropriate intervention to effectively address alcohol use in this vulnerable population.
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Posted in Planning Methods & Frameworks, Poster Session.

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