The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted Zambian life. Prior to the pandemic, persistent levels of inequality across urban/rural, educational, and socioeconomic divides characterized Zambia’s health and family patterns. Zambia’s government reacted decisively to the threat, shutting down many businesses, schools, and other social gatherings prior to the first confirmed cases. Fortunately, the country has not had many deaths. The indirect effects of COVID-19, however, on Zambian families mean many have lost income (via a reduction in the size of both the formal and, particularly, the informal sectors) and many businesses struggle with increased costs and reduced revenues. The healthcare system, particularly in rural areas, is strained. While the effect on the education system likely will not be fully visible for many years, it is likely that fewer children will pass their examinations this year, thereby reducing human capital in the next generation. In contrast, Zambia’s wealthy, often concentrated in the two economic and population hubs of Lusaka, the capital, and the Copperbelt province, are spending greater time with their families while using their substantial resources to maintain their standard of living. The ability to engage in physical distancing varies as well, with the privileged able to do so by staying home and shopping at smaller, more expensive (but less patronized) shops while the poor crowd into congested neighborhoods and markets. These deep inequalities will likely continue to shape Zambian society in both the near and long-term future, well after the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has faded from collective memory.

This study utilized Andersen's model of health behavior to explore factors associated with mental health service utilization. We also examine rates for mental health service use, treatment preferences, and barriers to care. Data were collected utilizing web-based surveys. The sample consisted of first and second-generation African immigrants who had struggled with emotional or behavioral problems in the past 12 months (N = 323). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of mental health service utilization. The majority of participants (79.5%) met criteria for probable major depression, and 63% sought mental health services. Findings showed that mental health service utilization was more significantly predicted by enabling and need factors. Age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03), religiosity (OR = 1.11), acculturative stress (OR = 1.68), neighborhood risk (OR = 0.54), and work-productivity loss (OR = 2.93) were associated with increased likelihood of mental health service use (p < 0.05). Most common barriers to service use were hopes of self-healing (56.3%) followed by financial barriers (46.2%). Findings highlight the need for public health initiatives to increase mental health literacy and financial accessibility to mental health services in response to the high mental health need and identified barriers to care in this population.

No abstract

This cross-sectional study examined coping strategies as moderators of the relationship between perceived discrimination and social exclusion among African immigrants in the United States (N = 409). Moderation models using path analyses were conducted to examine the moderating effects of three coping strategies (active coping, use of instrumental support, and religious coping) on the relationship between discrimination and four dimensions of social exclusion: (1) material deprivation, (2) limited access to basic social rights, (3) limited social participation, and (4) insufficient cultural integration. Increases in perceived discrimination were associated with increased social exclusion on all four dimensions. Increased use of active coping was found to weaken the positive relationship between perceived discrimination and material deprivation and between discrimination and limited social participation. Use of instrumental support also buffered the negative effects of discrimination on limited social participation. Recommendations for practice and future research are presented.

Objective This study examined the measurement properties of parenting‐related measures among 140 Rohingya and Afghan refugee parents residing in Malaysia, then examined factors associated with these parenting outcomes. Background Unprecedented numbers of forced migrant families reside in countries of first asylum with temporary status and limited legal rights. Limited research examines parenting experiences among these communities. Method To examine construct validity and reliability of parenting‐related measures among this sample, we carried out confirmatory factor analysis to examine respectively the factor structure of scales measuring underlying latent constructs of Child Adjustment & Parent Efficacy, the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and the Family Functioning Scale. Their associations with individual (gender, age, ethnicity, education), social (marital status, number of children), and environmental factors (time in Malaysia, food insecurity, employment, and emotional distress) were examined using structural equation modeling. Results Residing in Malaysia for a longer period of time was associated with higher child behavioral intensity, lower parent self‐efficacy, and higher family conflict. Food insecurity was associated with lower parent self‐efficacy, and being employed was associated with positive parenting as well as poor supervision. Higher levels of emotional distress were associated with higher child behavioral intensity, lower parent self‐efficacy, and lower levels of poor supervision. Conclusion Displacement challenges negatively affect refugee parents and families. Implications Solutions are needed that bolster the abilities of forced migrants to establish permanence and provide for their families. Additionally, attention toward the unique challenges of refugee families can guide service provision within countries of first asylum.