Soldati, E. (Elena) (2021) Perspectives of pregnant asylum-seeking women on implementation of a screening tool for anxiety, depression and PTSD. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background: Worldwide, in 2019, 4.1 million people fled their country of origin, out of which 20,353 applied for asylum status in the Netherlands. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression in pregnant asylum-seeking women is 48.2%, 41,8% and 42% respectively. The current Dutch guidelines for midwives concerning asylum seeking women, do not specify which method is most suitable to use to detect PTSD, anxiety disorder and depression within this population. This study aims to identify the most suitable and acceptable method to discuss psychiatric symptoms in pregnant asylum seekers. Methodology: To answer the research question, semi-structured interviews with pregnant asylum seekers were performed. The women first filled out a questionnaire regarding their demographic, psychiatric and obstetric characteristics, and then a mental health screening test, the Refugee Health Screener 15 (RHS-15). During the subsequent semi-structured interview, we discussed the acceptability and suitability of the use of the RHS-15 to open up dialogue about PTSD, anxiety disorders and depression. Results: Three main themes emerged from the semi-structured interviews: importance of mental health screening, talking about mental health and the RHS-15 as a screening tool for PTSD, anxiety and depression. All participants found it necessary and meaningful to talk about their mental health with a primary health care provider. Barriers and facilitators to start such a conversation and use of the RHS-15 in pregnant asylum seekers were also highlighted. Examples of enablers or barriers are the language barrier, cultural differences, relationship with the health care providers and other practical barriers such as the long waiting time or difficulties in arranging appointments. Conclusions: This study elucidates how to screen pregnant asylum seekers for mental health from their perspective. Using the RHS-15 as a screening tool for mental health is acceptable and suitable for this population. Recommendations on how to use the RHS-15 were discussed which can be used for implementation in clinical guidelines for midwives taking care of pregnant asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Verschuuren, A. and Postma, I.R. and Feijen de Jong, E. and Stekelenburg, prof. J. and Veling, prof. W. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jan 2022 10:30 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Jan 2022 10:30 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2918 |
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