Constant connections: piloting a mobile phone-based peer support program for Nuer (southern Sudanese) women
Dennis Wollersheim A B , Lee Koh A , Rae Walker A and Pranee Liamputtong AA School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: d.wollersheim@latrobe.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 19(1) 7-13 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY11052
Submitted: 2 May 2011 Accepted: 12 December 2011 Published: 23 January 2012
Abstract
Refugee women have poor psychosocial health as a result of past trauma and difficulties associated with settlement. This study was a pilot to find out how to use mobile phone-based peer support to improve the psychosocial health of, and facilitate settlement in a group of nine Nuer refugee women in Melbourne, Australia. Nine participants recruited by a community leader received peer support training over two five-week periods. They were further provided with mobile phone recharge vouchers to call one another to practice peer support techniques. The fifth and final sessions were focus groups to evaluate the intervention. Notes from the focus groups were thematically analysed. The women reported greater confidence and empowerment as they received more support, had better connections within the group and better access to information. Relationships with friends, family and the community became richer as they adopted and experienced more functional communication patterns. Using mobile phones for peer support helped to re-create community by bridging the geographical distance that separates refugee women. It allowed the women, from similar backgrounds and with similar experiences, to provide mutual support and exchange information through a verbal channel, the form of communication they are most comfortable with. The program demonstrates the positive psychosocial effect of peer support in a refugee community, and provides a viable model for using mobile phones in health promotion interventions. The successful outcomes, as perceived by the participants, are indicative of the potential of using technology to bridge health inequities in a marginalised group.
Additional keywords: cell phone, refugee, social capital, Sudan.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2002) Discussion papers – social capital and social wellbeing. Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3110122.NSF/6ead87599a9a3b0bca256eaf00836eb9/150bcb152250ddcfca256c220080ba47!OpenDocument [Verified 19 April 2011]Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) 3416.0 – Perspectives on migrants, 2007. Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3416.0Main%20Features52007?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3416.0&issue=2007&num=&view=#Anchor2_0 [Verified 14 May 2010]
BCS (2010) The information dividend: can IT make you “happier”? Available at http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConMediaFile.15378 [Verified 14 May 2010]
Benítez J (2006) Transnational dimensions of the digital divide among Salvadoran immigrants in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Global Networks 6, 181–196.
| Transnational dimensions of the digital divide among Salvadoran immigrants in the Washington DC metropolitan area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boateng A (2009) A mixed methods analysis of social capital of Liberian refugee women in Ghana. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare 36, 59–81.
Braun V, Clarke V (2006) Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, 77–101.
City of Greater Dandenong (2005) City of Greater Dandenong municipal health plan. Available at http://www.greaterdandenong.com/Documents.asp?ID=8400&Title=Municipal+public+health+plan&Type=f [Verified 23 March 2010]
Dow HD (2011) An overview of stressors faced by immigrants and refugees: a guide for mental health practitioners. Home Health Care Management & Practice 23, 210–217.
| An overview of stressors faced by immigrants and refugees: a guide for mental health practitioners.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ebi KL, Semenza JC (2008) Community-based adaptation to the health impacts of climate change. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 35, 501–507.
| Community-based adaptation to the health impacts of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18929976PubMed |
Ferris E (1987) ‘The Central American refugees.’ (Praeger: New York, NY)
George U, Chaze F (2009) “Tell me what I need to know”: South Asian women, social capital and settlement. Journal of International Migration and Integration 10, 265–282.
| “Tell me what I need to know”: South Asian women, social capital and settlement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hanson D, Hanson J, Vardon P, McFarlane K, Speare R, Durrheim D (2008) Documenting the development of social capital in a community safety promotion network: it’s not what you know but who you know. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 19, 144–151.
Iglesias E, Robertson E, Johansson S-E, Engfeldt P, Sundquist J (2003) Women, international migration and self-reported health. A population-based study of women of reproductive age. Social Science Medicine 56, 111–124.
| Women, international migration and self-reported health. A population-based study of women of reproductive age.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12435555PubMed |
Kaiser AS, Katz R, Shaw BF (1998) Cultural issues in the management of depression. In ‘Cultural clinical psychology: theory, research, and practice.’ (Eds SS Kazarian, DR Evans) pp. 177–214. (Oxford University Press: New York, NY)
Khawaja NG, White KM, Schweitzer R, Greenslade J (2008) Difficulties and coping strategies of Sudanese refugees: a qualitative approach. Transcultural Psychiatry 45, 489–512.
| Difficulties and coping strategies of Sudanese refugees: a qualitative approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18799645PubMed |
Law P-L, Chu W-C (2008) ICTs and migrant workers in contemporary China. Knowledge, Technology Policy 21, 43–45.
| ICTs and migrant workers in contemporary China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liamputtong P (2009) ‘Qualitative research methods.’ 3rd edn. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne)
Liamputtong P (2010) ‘Performing qualitative cross-cultural research.’ 1st edn. (Cambridge University Press: Melbourne)
Martin SF (1995) ‘Refugee women.’ (Zed Books: London)
Maton KI (1987) Patterns and psychological correlates of material support within a religious setting: the bidirectional support hypothesis. American Journal of Community Psychology 15, 185–207.
| Patterns and psychological correlates of material support within a religious setting: the bidirectional support hypothesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McMichael C, Manderson L (2004) Somali women and well-being: social networks and social capital among immigrant women in Australia. Human Organization 63, 88–99.
OECD (2001) ‘The wellbeing of nations: the role of human and social capital, education and skills.’ (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Paris)
Pandit NR (1996) The creation of theory: a recent application of the grounded theory method. The Qualitative Report 2, 1–14.
Schweitzer R, Melville F, Steel Z, Lacherez P (2006) Trauma, post-migration living difficulties, and social support as predictors of psychological adjustment in resettled Sudanese refugees. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 40, 179–187.
| Trauma, post-migration living difficulties, and social support as predictors of psychological adjustment in resettled Sudanese refugees.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16476137PubMed |
Sinha C (2007) Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities in developing countries. In ‘ICT in rural development: an overview’. (Ed. SK Multani) pp. 69–88. (Icfai University Press: Hyderabad, India)
Smith EJ (2006) The strength-based counseling model. The Counseling Psychologist 34, 13–79.
| The strength-based counseling model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Strauss AL, Corbin, J (1998) ‘Basics of qualitative research, techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory.’ 2nd edn. (Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA)
Tempany M (2009) What research tells us about the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Sudanese refugees: a literature review. Transcultural Psychiatry 46, 300–315.
| What research tells us about the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Sudanese refugees: a literature review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19541752PubMed |
Wallis C (2008) Techno-mobility and translocal migration: mobile phone use among female migrant workers in Beijing. In ‘Gender digital divide’. (Eds MI Srinivasan and VV Ramani) pp. 196–216. (Icfai University Press: Hyderabad, India)
Warner FR (2007) Social support and distress among Q’eqchi’ refugee women in Maya Tecún, Mexico. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 21, 193–217.
| Social support and distress among Q’eqchi’ refugee women in Maya Tecún, Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17601084PubMed |
World Health Organization (2008) ‘Integrating poverty and gender into health programmes: a sourcebook for health professionals: foundational module on gender.’ (WHO: Geneva, Switzerland)
Yang K (2008) A preliminary study on the use of mobile phones amongst migrant workers in Beijing. Knowledge, Technology Policy 21, 65–72.
| A preliminary study on the use of mobile phones amongst migrant workers in Beijing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
