1. The Montagnard
Population of North
Carolina
Aimee Love
Anderson Williamson
Michelle Petty

2. Who are the Montagnards?
 Natives of the Central
Highlands of Vietnam and
Cambodia
 Montagnard means “mountain
people”
 Also referred to as Degar
 Independent from the
mainstream Vietnamese
population
Figure 1. Finney, R. (2015).
Reference 3, 4, 8 & 9

3. Who are the Montagnards?
 Over 30 languages
 Most common in NC: Rhade, Jerai, Koho, Mnong
 Religion
 Animism was common religion until settlement in NC
 Christianity is most common religion in NC
 The church is a major outlet for social support
 Education:
 Men: generally have only up to a primary school education level
 Women: no formal education
Reference 3, 4 & 8

4. Who are the Montagnards?
 Housing:
 Traditionally lived in villages of longhouses
 Continue this tradition by sharing housing and resources in NC
 Family:
 Matrilineal
 Traditionally the men work outside the home while the women
take care of the home, children, and finances
 NC Immigrants are more likely to share these roles
Reference 3, 4 &8

5. Where are the Montagnards Settled?
 The Montagnards sought refuge
within the US
 Specifically in North Carolina
due to the large special
forces presence in the area
 Population of 5000 Montagnards
in North Carolina
 Majority in Greensboro
 Also large populations in
Charlotte, Raleigh, and New Bern
Montagnard Dega Association of
Greensboro Flag
Reference 3, 4 & 8

6. The Montagnards: Settlement in North
Carolina
 History of tension with mainstream Vietnamese population
 The Montagnards came into contact with Americans during the
Vietnam War as the Ho Chi Minh Trail was located within their
settlement
 Fought with Americans during the Vietnam War
 Front-line fighters trained by the US Special Forces
 Fostered a relationship between the Americans and Montagnards
 After the Vietnam War
 Montagnards faced backlash due to involvement with US Military
Reference 3, 4 & 8

7. The Montagnards: Settlement in North
Carolina
 3 Major immigrations:
 1986: 200 people
 Mostly men
 1992: 400 people
 269 men, 24 women, 80 children
 2002: 900 people
 Mostly men
 Others have immigrated throughout the years via family reunification,
the Orderly Departure Program and other services
Reference 3, 4 & 8

8. Montagnards: Beliefs Regarding Diet
In Vietnam
 Historically they lived healthy
lives living off the land
 After the Vietnam war they lost
much of their farming land and
subsequently there was a
decline in their nutritional
health
In the United States
 Due to a shortage of women in
the home and a lower income
status, the traditional healthy
diet has suffered
 Youth have adapted quickly to
American fast food
Reference 3, 4, & 8

9. Montagnards: Beliefs Regarding Mental
Health
 They do not subscribe to Western ideas in regards to mental health
 Mental health is viewed as a spiritual problem
 Severe behavioral disorders are generally tolerated within the
community
 If behavior appears too disrupted or dangerous they may be out
casted from the community
Reference 3

10. Montagnards: Beliefs on Disease
Treatment and Prevention
Prevention
 Do not traditionally think about
disease prevention
 Do not seek medical care
except in emergencies
Treatment
 Receptive to treatment and
health education
Reference 3

11. Montagnards: Health Concerns
In Vietnam
 War related injuries
 Malaria
 TB
 PTSD
 Cancer
 Poor nutrition
In the United States
 Diabetes
 Hypertension
 PTSD
 Alcoholism
 Domestic Violence
 Poor nutrition
Reference 3, 4, & 8

12. Montagnard Challenges Related to
Health Care in the United States
 Lack of health insurance – due to jobs with inadequate health
insurance, limited income, and ineligibility for Medicaid due to
refugee status
 Language barrier – there are over 10 dialects within Montagnard
community, many health care places do not offer translation and are
unaware of their language skills
 Lack of education to disease, prevention, and treatment
Reference 4 & 3

13. Montagnards: Resettlement Issues
 Community complaints about Montagnards hunting and slaughtering
animals in food preparation
 Social Services involvement due to the use of physical punishment
within the family
 Problems secondary to alcohol abuse
 Driving violations secondary to the lack of knowledge to driving rules
(DUI, lack of insurance, expired license, tags, registration and
inspection stickers)
 Lack of awareness to mainstream culture (leaving upholstered
furniture in ones yard)
Reference 3

14. Montagnards vs Vietnamese
 Montagnards do not consider themselves Vietnamese
 Many Montagnards do not speak Vietnamese
 Montagnards consider their homeland separate from Vietnam
 There is a long history of tension between Montagnards and the
mainstream Vietnamese
 Montagnards have been punished by the Vietnamese post war due to
their allegiance with the United States
 Montagnards maintain a lower social status than the Vietnamese
Reference 3 & 8

15. Montagnards vs Vietnamese -
Similarities
 Lack of disease prevention practices
 High rates of PTSD, cancer, mental disorders, infectious disease, TB &
Malaria
 Do not believe in psychiatric care
 Strong family bonds
 Language barriers
 Receptive to treatment
Reference 3, 7, & 8

16. Montagnards vs Vietnamese -
Differences
Montagnards
 10 thousand live in the United
States
 Largest population in North
Carolina
 Major religion - Animism,
Christianity, and Catholicism
 Do not speak Vietnamese
Vietnamese
 1.2 million live in the United
States
 Largest population in California
 Major religion – Buddhism,
Confucianism, and Taoism
 Speak Vietnamese
Reference 3, 7, & 8

17. How Do These Beliefs Impact ANP
Approach to Care
 Language and Cultural barriers
 Chronic illness (diabetes and High Blood Pressure)
 Mental illness (ETOH abuse)
 Education
 Diet
 Hard to reach families
 Keeping follow-up doctors appointments
 Following treatment plans
 Poverty- unable to pay medical bills
Reference 1 & 8

18. Interventions for this population
 Implement a community health center
 Provide free screening for diabetes and high blood pressure
 Identify and recruit translators from the community
 Incorporate Community Health Workers, (CHW)
 CHW can bridge cultural and linguistic barriers
 CHW expand access to coverage and care
 CHW improve health outcomes
 CHW decrease cost of care to the community
Reference 1 & 6

19. Interventions for this Population
(continued)
 Educate- provide a curriculum
at local community college to
train as a CHW. Target High
School Montagnard seniors
 Provide transportation for
medical appointments
Reference 1, 4, & 6

20. Why knowledge about the Montagnard
population is important to APN
 Understanding a culture increases awareness
 Identify health issues within the population
 Use resources to increase a healthier community
 Implement specific care plans for the Montagnard
 Overall, better management of their healthcare

21. Figure 2. Pagonis, J. (2006).

22. References
1. Community health: No longer a rational argument? (2013). Retrieved from
http://youngprojects.blogspot.com/2013/12/community-health- any-
simpler-than-this.htlm
2. Finney, R. (2015). Cambodia turns away montagnard asylum-seekers from
vietnam [drawing of map]. Retrieved from
www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/asylum-10012015163053.html
3. Kaleidoscope. (2012). Montagnards. Retrieved from
http://cnnc.uncg.edu/wp- content/uploads/2012/08/montagnards.pdf
4. Montagnard community struggles to acquire health care. (2014). University
Wire. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/docview/162498958
6?pq-origsite=summon
5. Pagonis, J. (2006). Assistant high commisioner cautiously optimistic over
montagnard returnee situation in vietnam’s central highlands
[photograph]. Retrieved from www.unhcr.org/4450f0454.html

23. References
6. Providers & community-based organizations. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://mnchwalliance.org/chws-you/for-providers/
7. Purnell, L. D. (2008). Traditional vietnamese health and healing. Urologic
Nursing, 28(1), 63-7. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/docview/220152348
/DD3478DE41054EBFPQ/1?accountid=10634.html
8. The Montagnards – Culture Profile. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.culturalorientation.net/library/publications/montagnards-cp
9. Xin, H., Morrison, S., Dharod, J., Young, A., & Nsonwu, M. (2014). Cross-cultural
"allies" in immigrant community practice: Roles of foreign-trained former
montagnard health professionals. Health, Culture and Society, 6(1), 62-72.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/hcs.2014.143