Evaluating Mental Health in Cuban Refugees: The Role of the Refugee Health Screener-15

Abstract

The Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) is widely used in refugee populations, but the psy-chometric properties and clinical utility have not been evaluated in Cuban refugees and entrants. The current study explored results from the Spanish version of the RHS-15 in a sample of 53 Cuban entrants and refugees, and of these, 17.6% screened positive for a mental health concern. Analyses suggested that a positive screening was significantly related to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder; however, it was not associated with demographic variables such as gender, mode of transport, or the number of countries through which a refugee traveled before arriving in the United States. A factor analysis of the measure revealed a 4-factor solution is most appropriate when used with Cuban individuals. Results provide preliminary evidence regarding the measure's psychometric properties, and demonstrate that the Spanish version of the RHS-15 is an appropriate screening tool for the mental health of newly arrived Cuban entrants and refugees. Future studies should further validate the Spanish version RHS-15 in Cuban entrants and refugees, and explore its efficacy amongst Latino refugees of other nationalities.