Asylum Seekers, Violence and Health: A Systematic Review of Research in High-Income Host Countries

We performed a systematic review of literature on violence and related health concerns among asylum seekers in high-income host countries. We extracted data from 23 peer-reviewed studies. Prevalence of torture, variably defined, was above 30% across all studies. Torture history in clinic populations...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of public health (1971) Vol. 103; no. 3; pp. e30 - e42
Main Authors Kalt, Anne, Hossain, Mazeda, Kiss, Ligia, Zimmerman, Cathy
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Public Health Association 01.03.2013
Subjects
Cardiovascular disease
Conventions
Detention
Developed Countries
Domestic violence
Epidemiology
Female
Health problems
Health Status
High income
Host country
Humans
Hunger
Immigration policy
Industrialized nations
Literature reviews
Male
Medical Subject Headings-MeSH
Mental depression
Mental health services
Online Systematic Review
Political asylum
Population
Post traumatic stress disorder
Public health
Refugees
Refugees - psychology
Refugees - statistics & numerical data
Sex crimes
Sex Offenses - psychology
Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data
Stress
Studies
Suicide - statistics & numerical data
Systematic review
Torture
Torture - psychology
Torture - statistics & numerical data
Violence
Violence - psychology
Violence - statistics & numerical data
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ISSN0090-0036
1541-0048
1541-0048
DOI10.2105/AJPH.2012.301136

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Summary:We performed a systematic review of literature on violence and related health concerns among asylum seekers in high-income host countries. We extracted data from 23 peer-reviewed studies. Prevalence of torture, variably defined, was above 30% across all studies. Torture history in clinic populations correlated with hunger and posttraumatic stress disorder, although in small, nonrepresentative samples. One study observed that previous exposure to interpersonal violence interacted with longer immigration detention periods, resulting in higher depression scores. Limited evidence suggests that asylum seekers frequently experience violence and health problems, but large-scale studies are needed to inform policies and services for this vulnerable group often at the center of political debate.
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Peer Reviewed
Note. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, and decisions of their employers.
A. Kalt acquired the data and takes responsibility for its integrity and for the accuracy of the data analysis. A. Kalt, C. Zimmerman, and M. Hossain conceptualized and designed the study. A. Kalt and C. Zimmerman drafted the article. C. Zimmerman and M. Hossain supervised the study. All authors analyzed and interpreted the data and critically revised the article.
Contributors
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2012.301136