In recent years, the Vietnamese Gulf Coast communities have endured
multiple natural, as well as man-made disasters, including both hurricane
Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon (BP) Oil Spill. The long-term
damage to the economic and psychological well-being of the people who are
dependent on the fisheries and seafood industry in this region remains unclear.
The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill on the Vietnamese American Gulf Coast communities and to
offer recommendations on how to effectively work with this underserved
population.
Sixty Vietnamese
adults across the three States participated in the focus group
study. Of this number, 39 (65%) were females, with an age range from 28 - 65
years old. On average, participants had had about 8
years of education in Vietnam, with the number of years ranging from 3 - 12
years. With regard to marital status, 86% were married, 10% were single, and 4%
were divorced/ separated. Approximately 77%
had worked in the seafood industry and about 92% indicated that they spoke
English “not very well”. Audio recordings of the focus group discussions were
transcribed, recorded on a spread sheet, and categorized into themes by two
independent Vietnamese-speaking individuals. A third researcher, also fluent in
Vietnamese, checked and compared the spread sheets for accuracy and
reliability.
Nearly all
participants reported being negatively affected by the oil spill disaster. They
described loss of income (59%), loss of employment (27%), and inability to pay
bills (12%). High levels of stress, anxiety and depression, as well as an
increase in behavioral problems were reported. None of the participants
claimed to know where or how to seek help for mental health problems.
In conclusion, the
oil spill disaster has had significant negative consequences for the economic
well-being, family functioning, and behavioral and mental health status of the
Vietnamese American gulf coast communities. Implications and strategies for
working with this population are offered.
Article by Dung Ngo, et al, from USA.
Full access: http://mrw.so/2436M6
Image by Travel Care Air, from Flickr-cc.
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