Health of Cambodian Refugees

Cambodian refugees have been entering the United States since 1975, with the largest numbers arriving in the early 1980s. While many adjusted satisfactorily to their new environment, many continue having severe difficulty with the resettlement. Studies show that Cambodians are suffering more physical and mental distress than Vietnamese, Hmong, and Laotians. They are experiencing more financial and social distress, as well. This paper describes a small neighborhood home visiting program established 13 years ago to provide follow-up care for Cambodian refugees seen in a University Medical Center and later serving as a community experience for fourth-year medical students. These close contacts with the Cambodian community indicate that for many, especially those who are aging, both health and adjustment appear to be deteriorating. Chronic illnesses and prolonged severe depression are taking the place of the infectious diseases and the personal health problems, like dental disease, that they brought with them when they resettled in America.