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James M. Jaranson, MD, MPH, James Butcher, PhD, Linda Halcon, PhD, MPH, RN, David Robert Johnson, MD, MPH, Cheryl Robertson, PhD, MPH, RN, Kay Savik, MS, Marline Spring, PhD and Joseph Westermeyer, MD, PhD, MPH

At the time of the study, James M. Jaranson was with the HealthPartners Division of Behavioral Health and the departments of Epidemiology and Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. James Butcher was with the Psychology Department, University of Minnesota. David Robert Johnson and Joseph Westermeyer are with the Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Psychiatry Department, University of Minnesota. David Robert Johnson is also with the Center for Victims of Torture, Minneapolis. Linda Halcon, Cheryl Robertson, and Kay Savik are with the School of Nursing, and Marline Spring is with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Marline Spring, Ph.D., Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S Second St, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454 (e-mail: sprin006{at}umn.edu).

Objectives. This cross-sectional, community-based, epidemiological study characterized Somali and Ethiopian (Oromo) refugees in Minnesota to determine torture prevalence and associated problems.

Methods. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed, then administered by trained ethnic interviewers to a nonprobability sample of 1134. Measures assessed torture techniques; traumatic events; and social, physical, and psychological problems, including posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Results. Torture prevalence ranged from 25% to 69% by ethnicity and gender, higher than usually reported. Unexpectedly, women were tortured as often as men. Torture survivors had more health problems, including posttraumatic stress.

Conclusions. This study highlights the need to recognize torture in African refugees, especially women, identify indicators of posttraumatic stress in torture survivors, and provide additional resources to care for tortured refugees.

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