Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Role of Social Networks in Providing Social Support to Resettled Female Refugees During their Pregnancy in the United States

Abstract Details

2017, PHD, Kent State University, College of Public Health.
Background: Recent statistics report that worldwide, 65.3 million people have been forcibly displaced, 21.3 million of whom are refugees. Women and girls comprise 50% of the forcibly displaced population and 50% of the refugee population. Many refugees in protracted situation are resettled in a third country. Upon resettlement, female refugees often report poorer health outcomes compared to other immigrants, as well as to native-born women within the host country. Of particular concern are the opportunities for resettled female refugees to achieve healthy pregnancies. Personal social networks can be an important source of support for resettled refugee women during their pregnancies. The present study considers the experiences of resettled Bhutanese refugee women of Nepali descent during their pregnancies in the United States (U.S.) from a social network perspective. Methods: Study participants were recruited from the Akron Metropolitan Area in Ohio through study fliers posted in two local Nepali grocery stores, as well as through word of mouth. A total of 45 participants were recruited and completed the in-person, semi-structured interview. Interviews were conducted in Nepali in private rooms free of interruption within the participant’s home. The interview guide included questions that collected participant demographic information, information about the personal social networks of participants during their pregnancies (such as the number of support persons and their demographic characteristics), questions from the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) to measure the amount of support provided, and open-ended questions to elicit information about the pregnancy and resettlement experiences of participants in their new communities. Results: A total of 45 participants were included in the personal network analysis, while 42 were included in social support analyses due to incomplete responses from 3 participants. The average number of ties named as important sources of support during their pregnancies was 3.09 (SD = 0.90). The majority of ties (79%) were identified as spouses or family members. Family members who were identified as important sources of support were sisters-in-law and sisters. The average social support score that was reported across the participants’ personal social networks was 58.7 (SD = 20.9). When utilizing an averaged social support score, the mean score was 18.9 (SD = 3.5). Women who resettled from another city/state in the U.S. were 4.52 times (95% confidence interval: 1.19 – 17.15) as likely to report a high support network compared to women who resettled directly from Nepal. Tie characteristics that were identified as relevant in shaping the perception of the social support provided were whether the tie was a family member, was female, worked outside the home, communicated daily with the participant, and were considered a “very close” connection. Women reported discussing matters related to their personal health, matters related to their child’s health, anxieties related to pregnancy, and functional matters related to the household as what they commonly discussed within their personal networks. Conclusions: The size and composition of the personal social networks of refugee women is important to consider when studying the resettlement experience, particularly during pregnancy. Understanding how personal social networks provide support to refugee women during their pregnancies can help inform programs, interventions, and policies designed to improve health outcomes for refugee mothers and infants following resettlement.
Jeffrey S. Hallam, PHD (Committee Co-Chair)
Madhav P. Bhatta, PHD (Committee Co-Chair)
Eric Jefferis, PHD (Committee Member)
Brian Castellani, PHD (Committee Member)
176 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kingsbury, D. M. (2017). The Role of Social Networks in Providing Social Support to Resettled Female Refugees During their Pregnancy in the United States [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492786227279693

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kingsbury, Diana. The Role of Social Networks in Providing Social Support to Resettled Female Refugees During their Pregnancy in the United States. 2017. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492786227279693.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kingsbury, Diana. "The Role of Social Networks in Providing Social Support to Resettled Female Refugees During their Pregnancy in the United States." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1492786227279693

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)