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The prevalence rates and correlates of mental or physical disability among recently resettled refugees, who undergo strenuous journeys before arriving in the US, remain unknown, masking potential health disparities. Self-reported disability was measured by the 2018 Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR), and defined as having a physical, mental, or other health condition for more than 6 months that precluded one from working. Prevalence rates of self-reported disability and sample correlates were investigated using descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Of N = 4259 participating refugees in ASR (Mean Age = 28.2, SD = 17.2; 52.5% male), 2875 responded to the disability question and 21.4% reported disability. About 33.7% were born in the Middle East region, 29.5% had no formal education, and 35% had an income of less than $15,000. Age (OR = 1.06, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.06,1.07], p

BACKGROUND: Refugees and immigrants can experience complex stressors from the process of immigration that can have lasting and severe long-term mental health consequences. Experiences after ayahuasca ingestion are shown to produce positive effects on psychological wellbeing and mental health, including anecdotal reports of improved symptoms of trauma and related disorders. However, data on the longitudinal health impact of naturalistic ayahuasca use in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) immigrant and refugee populations is limited. AIMS: The current longitudinal online survey study was conducted to gather prospective data on ceremonial ayahuasca use in a group (N = 15) of primarily female MENA immigrants and refugees and to provide further insight into the patterns and outcomes surrounding that use. The study sought to assess self-reported changes in physical and mental health, well-being, and psychological functioning, examine relationships between aspects of individual mindset (e.g., psychedelic preparedness) prior to ayahuasca use and observed outcomes during (e.g., subjective drug effects) and afterwards (i.e., persisting effects), characterize risks and negative experiences, and describe trauma exposure and personal history. RESULTS/OUTCOMES: Our findings revealed ceremonial use of ayahuasca is associated with significant improvements in mental health, well-being, and psychological functioning, including reductions in depression, anxiety, and shame, and increases in cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion. Most participants reported no lasting adverse effects and experienced notable positive behavioral changes persisting months after ingestion. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: While preliminary, results suggest naturalistic ayahuasca use might hold therapeutic potential for MENA populations exposed to trauma prior to and during the process of migration.

Refugees and asylum seekers are more prone to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. This systematic review aims to determine which psychosocial interventions effectively treat PTSD among refugees and asylum seekers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Relevant papers were retrieved from the bibliographic databases. PTSD symptoms post-intervention was the primary outcome. Ten studies were selected with 1981 participants. In meta-analyses of Randomised control trials (RCTs), psychosocial interventions for PTSD (SMD −0.60, 95% CI −0.96 to −0.23; I 2 = 91%; 95% CI 75–100; nine studies, 1789 participants) were shown to be clinically effective. Also, in case of depression (SMD −0.59, 95% CI −0.95 to −0.22; I 2 = 84%; 95% CI 50–90; seven studies, 1248 participants). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) had the greatest effect size among psychosocial therapies for this demographic. However, the number of studies is small, and their methodological rigour is limited, thus future study should concentrate on performing more rigorous trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature indicates an increasing interest in the mental health of refugees (R) and asylum seekers (AS) – particularly how it could be affected by previous exposure to trauma and violence – but less has been written about the issues they are forced to face during the post-migration period and how these also can affect mental health. Research shows that the mental health of R/AS is highly influenced by their post-migration conditions and may deteriorate due to post-migration social health-related determinants; in addition, a lack of language skills, discrimination, separation from family, poverty, and other stressors can contribute to social isolation. The difficulty in asking for help in case of psychological distress and, consequently, in accessing care, contributes to the worsening of their clinical condition. Aims: The primary purpose of this study is to identify and provide a review of the clinical tools used to screen migrants (R/AS) at risk of developing psychological distress, identifying post-migration difficulties. Methods: We searched studies in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane (Central), and Cinahl (ultimate) with the last search on 14 April 2023, using a combination of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Results: Our systematic search identified 1,878 records. After removing duplicates, we screened 1,238 records by title and abstract, retaining 97 for full text review. Of these, 68 met full eligibility criteria (1995–2023). A total of 30 social scales have been identified, as well as structured or semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. Translated into multiple languages, the tools can be self-administered or administered by trained professionals. PMLD is known for its effectiveness in evaluating the post-migration period and predicting mental health issues. Conclusions: Considering the limited number of studies and, consequently, the limited number of tools found, it can be inferred that not enough attention is given to post-migration in the broader sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Securing appropriate housing is a crucial component of resettlement for people with refugee experience, but many face challenges in securing private rental housing, including discrimination, particularly for large families. This paper explores refugee and asylum seeker experiences of discrimination in the private rental market through in-depth semi-structured interviews with refugees and asylum seekers from large families (N = 22), service providers (N = 18), community leaders (N = 4), real estate agents (N = 11) and lessors (N = 10). Interviews were thematically analysed. The analysis identified the pervasive nature of discriminatory practices in private rental housing affecting large refugee and asylum-seeking families, though it was not always recognised as discrimination. Market factors and risk assessments were highlighted as contributing to discrimination and how agents' and lessors' working definition of discrimination manifested in their tenant selection practices. While service providers and some agents sought to counter discriminatory practices, the significant impact of discriminatory housing practices for refugees and asylum seekers was evident and poses important policy and practice questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, teenage pregnancy is a public health problem. Low- and middle-income countries in the Sub-Saharan region are more affected with teenage pregnancy. It is worse with teenage girls who have other vulnerabilities like living in refugee camps. However, there is little information about teenage pregnancy in refugee camps especially in resource limited areas like Northern Uganda. Objective: To determine the prevalence and the factors associated with teenage pregnancy among refugees in Palabek refugee settlement, Northern Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. The study estimated a total sample size of 316 teenage girls and they were sampled using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaire. Conditional logistics regression was employed to identify the associated factors for teenage pregnancy. Results: A total of 306 teenagers participated in the study with a response rate of 98.6%. The study showed that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement, Northern Uganda was 41.2%. The factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement included: being in the 15–19 years age group (AOR = 6.3, 95%CI: 1.8–22.8), not being in school (AOR = 5, 95%CI: 2.3–10.9), not being married (AOR = 0.2, 95%CI: 0.1–0.5), delayed sexual debut (AOR = 2.4, 95%CI: 1.1–5.5), having multiple sexual partners (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7), alcohol use (AOR = 6.7, 95%CI: 2.2–18.4), being aware of sexual reproductive health services (AOR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.9), and having divorced families (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2–4.9). Conclusion: Study results reveal that 4 in 10 teenage girls in Palabek, Northern Uganda, are pregnant, influenced by individual, community, and health system factors. This highlights vulnerabilities in refugee camps, urging prioritization of sexual and reproductive health for adolescent girls in refugee camps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“: Home” is both a physical location and a space of important emotional and social attachments. Often associated with safety and familiarity, homes are also places where power inequalities may be reinforced. Contrary to human rights treaties stipulating the right of refugees to live in shelters that meet their basic needs, adolescent refugees in Jordan often reside in poor-quality housing within built environments that do not foster their wellbeing. Yet despite a burgeoning literature on refugee “homemaking”, little is known about how young refugees in Jordan perceive and respond to challenges in the built environment. This article addresses this knowledge gap, focusing on how gender norms are configured within “homemaking” practices. It draws on qualitative interviews with 31 adolescents in diverse locations: Syrians living in a formal refugee camp (Azraq), host communities, and informal tented settlements, and Palestinians without citizenship living in Jerash camp. Our findings show that refugee adolescents in Jordan face intersecting challenges, including poor access to services, inadequate housing infrastructure and sanitation, and safety concerns. These challenges vary based on location and are shaped by gender norms that influence access to spaces both inside and outside the household. Although adaptation methods can make homes more livable in terms of safety, aesthetics and practicality, these adaptations often reinforce gender norms that restrict girls’ mobility. This article concludes by underscoring that although refugees can make small changes to address immediate needs, structural responses which address gender inequalities and improve social protection support are essential to improving young refugees’ lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study integrates communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory with the ecological systems model to investigate intergenerational family storytelling (IGFS) in Palestinian families. Amidst historical and ongoing persecution, members of the Palestinian diaspora are tasked with making sense of their cultural and familial experiences. This study aims to understand how IGFS affects members’ meanings, values, and beliefs related to their Palestinian identity. Interviews with 25 Palestinians in the U.S. revealed that their IGFS was unified under “sumud” – a Palestinian concept highlighting steadfastness across generations. Sumud was illuminated through themes of shaping identity and connecting through generations. Findings contribute to CNSM theory by illuminating the unique functions of IGFS and can inform culturally sensitive interventions for communities facing intergenerational trauma and adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst rising hostilities and repatriation calls in countries hosting refugees, understanding the dynamics of native perceptions becomes crucial for addressing the growing tensions. This study utilizes an original factorial survey experiment to explore native perceptions of refugee return. In doing so, it identifies resentment -arising from perceived unfair resource allocation to refugees- as a driving factor shaping respective native attitudes. Results suggest that as resentment builds up, natives become more likely to demand refugees' repatriation. Resentment's influence is particularly pronounced in healthcare and education policies, highlighting its context-dependent nature in explaining attitudes. Moreover, the effect of resentment remains robust even when considering alternative predictors (i.e. threat perceptions and contact). This underscores the complex nature of host attitudes towards refugees, suggesting that perceptions of fairness and justice in resource distribution are central to understanding the increasing number of calls for repatriation among native populations. Providing insights from Turkey, an understudied case in migration studies, this study also contributes to our understanding of whether and how existing theories about the drivers of attitudes toward refugees play out in non-Western contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper is an exploratory study on the Bangladeshi immigrants who have crossed the border between India and Bangladesh during two historical points of time. The central focus of the paper is to understand the process of identity constitution and reconstitution among these immigrants over different generations. It’s based on the focused ethnographic study of the community with tools of FGD and interview-schedule. The paper attempts to grasp different aspects of the identity construction of the community. It tries to capture the “trilemma” of negotiating identities of the Bangladeshi immigrants in Odisha, an eastern province of India. This trilemma unfolds with different levels of negotiations pertaining to their status of Refugees questioning their conception of nation and citizenship, fitting into a distinguished host identity and connecting with their Bengali community. The study tries to put a direction of these multiple negotiations into the arena of the Diasporic-cultural community by contesting the term refugee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women represent approximately half of the refugee population, yet female-specific trauma pre, during, and after the refugee journey impacting post-settlement psychological wellbeing, is rarely explored. This scoping review described sources of evidence, key concepts, and gaps regarding traumatic experiences and the psychological wellbeing of women from refugee backgrounds following traumatic experiences with a particular interest in positive change post-settlement. Inclusion criteria were a) women from refugee backgrounds who experienced traumatic events throughout the refugee journey, and b) reported positive changes in their psychological wellbeing post-settlement. The systematic search strategy identified references from PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases as well as Google Scholar across 1992–2023. Ten studies were extracted, and data were mapped to study characteristics, trauma characteristics, psychological wellbeing domains, and recommendations for further studies. Findings described an emphasis on qualitative methods, utilizing interviews as a data collection technique, and recruiting participants from countries of origin or host countries with typically small populations of women from refugee backgrounds. It excluded individuals with disabilities. Traumatic experiences were signified as trauma types (refugee trauma and female-specific trauma) and trauma durations (acute trauma and prolonged trauma). Psychological wellbeing domains of autonomy, personal growth, and positive relations were the most represented, and purpose in life and self-acceptance were the least represented across the studies. Studies suggested further exploration of female-specific refugee trauma and its impacts to provide tailored support services. In conclusion, there was a paucity of studies that considered the psychological implications of experiencing female-specific refugee trauma influencing positive psychological wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide range of benefits are associated with children's positive transition to school. Applying a critical sociological lens in understanding transitions allows for cycles of sociocultural inequality to be challenged and disrupted. This is of particular importance for understanding transition experiences of children from socially demarcated groups, such as children from refugee backgrounds. This paper outlines how critical sociological theory can be used to identify settler‐colonial ideology and to unpack how children are understood and positioned within their broader sociocultural context, and how this understanding can lead to a strength‐based approach that recognises the rights, agency and voice of children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization has carved out the migration patterns of immigrants over the recent years of increased technological interventions in human mobility. Migration infrastructures, which typically refer to the physical, commercial, humanitarian, and governmental modes of operation, are multidimensional in nature. Digital infrastructures are equally important to the physical ones as digital technologies facilitate these migration processes through agents like hardware, software, and mediating actors. Amongst the multiple forms of migration, the concept of return-writing and nostalgia-struck-returnees encompass individuals whose life trajectories run parallel to the homeland. The narrative of return to the homeland emerges aβs a dominant motif in literature due to the rising trends of globalization, the writers' reflection on their own migrant experiences, and publishing trends meeting the demand of the global book market. The objective is to assess the role of digital migration infrastructures in return migrations to India through a close reading of the selected texts and review of postcolonial literary theories by using conditional operation in Python. The study here explores the varied nuances of return migration with a primary focus on the external conditions of travel in migration literature. The paper aims to analyze the genre of return-writing in Indian English literature, through three novels over a period of two decades, i.e., from 2000-2023. The selected texts, beginning with Amit Chaudhuri's A New World (2000), Gun Island (2019) by Amitav Ghosh, and Devika Rege's novel Quarterlife (2023), offer a panoramic view of return migration. These novels are extensive in the time period of technological interventions and in depiction of return migration. The Python code examines the extent of existence of a set of digital migration infrastructure keywords by analyzing the content of the novels and creates bar plots and charts to offer a visual representation of the classification results. The resulting trend traces the increased intervention of Digital Migration Infrastructure in the recent migration literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rohingya crisis is one of the most severe humanitarian tragedies of our time, yet its portrayal in international media often lacks justification. Utilizing BERTopic, a transformer-based semi-supervised topic modeling technique, we analyzed 8,074 news articles about the Rohingya crisis, spanning newspapers from ten countries between 2009 and 2023. We aimed to observe the framing of the Rohingya crisis across countries and track frames’ evolution over time. We identified eleven frames: Politics, Departure, Repatriation, Human Rights, Resettlement, Refuge, Relief, Crisis, Retribution, Condolence, and Press Freedom, with the Political frame as the most frequent. Notably, host and non-host countries differed in framing the crisis, with Retribution and Crisis frames exclusive to host countries’ media, while Resettlement and Press Freedom frames were exclusive to non-host countries’ media. Host countries focused on Repatriation, Human Rights, and Relief news, whereas non-host countries prioritized Politics, Departure, and Refuge frames. Additionally, neighboring host countries were less likely to publish news on Resettlement. Changes in frames displayed significant variability across countries, indicating a lack of consistently identifiable patterns and suggesting that news media's framing habits may prioritize national interests over the chronological progression of the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among the many pressing concerns of the Somali-American community, and other similar immigrant and refugee communities as they grow in the United States, is the provision of care for older adults and adults with disabilities. The implications of effective caregiving range from the facilitation of community building and place-making to the delivery and management of healthcare on a systemic level. However, little is currently known about Somali-American family caregivers, including their duties and responsibilities, primary concerns, and the impacts of surrounding influences on their ability to fulfill their role. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Somali-American family caregivers in Somali language. The resulting transcripts were translated into English by a professional interpreter and analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. A key informant from the community was additionally consulted for insights regarding cultural nuances and interpretations of idiomatic expressions and concepts. Results: Thematic analysis of the reports revealed the principal themes of visitation, patient accompaniment, and self-sacrifice through acceptance and God-consciousness as pervasive and salient concerns across participants. Furthermore, the heightened stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how severe the consequences can be when access to culturally habituated navigational tools and coping mechanisms are restricted. Conclusions: In light of our findings, the growing concern for discrimination and sociocultural discord in the Somali-American community presents a particularly prescient threat to the well-being and sustainability of family caregivers. Their experiences must be understood and used to promote education and partnership between the healthcare system and the community in order to build trust and ensure a healthy future for this indispensable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informing local decision-making, improving service delivery and designing household surveys require having access to high-spatial resolution mapping of the targeted population. However, this detailed spatial information remains unavailable for specific population subgroups, such as refugees, a vulnerable group that would significantly benefit from focused interventions. Given the continuous increase in the number of refugees, reaching an all-time high of 35.3 million people in 2022, it is imperative to develop models that can accurately inform about their spatial locations, enabling better and more tailored assistance. Methods: We leverage routinely collected registration data on refugees and combine it with high-resolution population maps, satellite imagery derived settlement maps and other spatial covariates to disaggregate observed refugee totals into 100-m grid cells. We suggest a deterministic grid cell allocation inside monitored refugee sites based on building count and a random-forest-derived grid cell allocation outside refugee sites based on geolocating the textual geographic information in the refugee register and on high-resolution population mapping. We test the method in Cameroon using the registration database monitored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Results: Using OpenStreetMap, 83% of the manually inputted information in the registration database could be geolocated. The building footprint layer derived from satellite imagery by Ecopia AI offers extensive coverage within monitored refugee sites, although manual digitization was still required in rapidly evolving settings. The high-resolution mapping of refugees on a 100-m grid basis provides an unparalleled level of spatial detail, enabling valuable geospatial insights for informed local decision-making. Conclusions: Gathering information on forcibly displaced persons in sparse data-setting environment can quickly become very costly. Therefore, it is critical to gain the most knowledge from operational data that is frequently collected, such as registration databases. Integrating it with ancillary information derived from satellite imagery paves the way for obtaining more timely and spatially precise information to better deliver services and enhance sampling frame for target data collection exercises that further improves the quality of information on people in need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global refugee crisis and the increased number of refugees seeking asylum in Canada has led the federal government to enact a series of policy reforms related to refugee healthcare coverage and spending. This paper provides a critical review of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), drawing on concepts from social justice, migration, and market-oriented theories while examining policy rhetoric, legal ramifications, and media portrayals. The recommendations in this article aim to reduce health inequities and healthcare access barriers for the refugee population in Canada. Findings suggest Canadian federal policies have contributed to refugee health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, a massive migration of Syrian nationals to Türkiye has been a significant phenomenon. This situation has become a problematic issue, as the massive presence of Syrian refugees in Türkiye has become an important part of the domestic political agenda. The politicization of the refugee issue has long since presented a duality of conflicting opinions among the Turkish society, whereas it has led to political debates between pro-government and opposition groups. In light of these developments, Turkish government elites have produced discourses of religious solidarity with the aim of providing tolerance and social acceptance for Syrian refugees and thus legitimizing the open door policy of the government toward these refugees. The aim of this study is to analyze and categorize the themes that constitute the basis of the discourses of religious solidarity regarding Syrian refugees in Türkiye. In this context, a second aim is to demonstrate how these themes have been welcomed in a positive manner by their adoption and recognition by Turkish society. To these aims, governmental discourses of religious solidarity and a sample consisting of 980 posts on the digital platform X have been analyzed by using the critical discourse analysis technique and have been categorized under two discursive themes, namely the ensar–muhacir analogy and the emphases on the Ottoman legacy. The conformity between these discourses and the government's ideological orientation and the degree to which these discourses have been welcomed and adopted by the Turkish society have been discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and 2) infections among immigrants and refugees worldwide. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases were searched for studies published from their inception to 6 January 2023. A meta-analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with a random effect was performed for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the decade of study, sample size, confirmatory methods, region of study, risk group, and region of origin. Of the 381 studies initially identified, 21 were included. The pooled prevalence of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 was 1.28% (95% CI: 0.58, 2.81) and 0.11% (95% CI: 0.04, 0.33), respectively. HTLV-1 prevalence differed significantly by region of origin, with the highest prevalence among those from the Western Pacific Region (7.27%; 95% CI: 2.94, 16.83). The subgroup analysis also showed significant differences between the estimates of HTLV-1 considering the decade of study, sample size, and region of study. For HTLV-2, significant differences were shown in relation to sample size, confirmatory methods, and risk group. The higher HTLV-1 prevalence found deserves public health attention in immigrant and refugee-receiving non-endemic countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many refugee women and women seeking asylum arrive in high-income countries with unmet preventive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care needs. Primary healthcare providers (HCPs) are usually refugee and asylum seekers' first point of care. This study aimed to identify HCP characteristics associated with initiating conversations and discussing SRH opportunistically during other health interactions. Methods: An anonymous online survey was distributed nationally to representatives of health professional organisations and Primary Health Networks. Hierarchical logistic regression analysed factors including HCP demographics, knowledge and awareness, perceived need for training and professional experience with refugee women were included in the models. Results: Among 163 HCPs, those initiating conversations ranged from 27.3% (contraceptive care) to 35.2% (cervical screening). Opportunistic discussions ranged from 26.9% (breast screening) to 40.3% (contraceptive care). Positively associated factors included offering care to refugee women or women seeking asylum at least once every 2 months 7.64 (95% CI 2.41;24.22, P < 0.001); 2.82 (95% CI 1.07;740, P < 0.05), working part-time 8.01 (95% CI 2.34;27.86, P < 0.001); 2.43 (95% CI 1.02;5.76, P < 0.05) and having over 10 years of practice in Australia 2.20 (95% CI 0.71;6.87, P < 0.001); 0.40 (95% CI 1.66;0.95, P < 0.05). Barriers identified by HCPs included women's cultural beliefs (76%), lack of SRH knowledge (72.4%), religious beliefs (67.5%) and limited English-language skills (54.6%). Conclusions: Direct professional experience, frequency of service provision, years of practice, and part time work positively influence HCPs' SRH care practices. Enhancing bilingual health worker programs, outreach, education, and support for SRH and cultural competency training are essential to improving the preventive SRH care of refugee women and women seeking asylum. Primary healthcare providers are usually refugee and asylum seekers' first point of care in resettlement countries. Findings indicate direct professional experience characteristics influence healthcare providers' knowledge and beliefs regarding refugee women's sexual and reproductive health. Clinical practice changes and cultural competency training are needed to improve the preventive sexual and reproductive health care of refugee women and women seeking asylum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the development of proactive control strategies in 100 Syrian refugee families (394 individuals) with 6- to 18-year-old children currently living in Turkish communities. The results demonstrate that children's age and their mothers' post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with the degree of proactive control in their children, with worse mental health being associated with a larger reliance on reactive control and lesser reliance on proactive, future-oriented, control (measured via d′ in the AX-CPT task). None of the following factors contributed to children's performance: fathers' experience with post-traumatic stress, parents' exposure to potentially traumatic war-related events, perceived discrimination, a decline in socio-economic status, religious beliefs, parents' proactive control strategies, or the education or gender of the children themselves. The association between mothers' mental health and proactive control strategies in children was large (in terms of effect size), suggesting that supporting mothers' mental health might have clear effects on the development of their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The localization of humanitarian operations is commonly characterized as a return of ownership to local and national actors. Localization policies in Kenya have made refugee‐led community‐based organizations a viable alternative for humanitarian provisioning. Simultaneously, localization facilitated the ongoing enlargement of the Kenyan state into refugee management. Incidentally, the Kenyan state has introduced limitations on community‐based organizations’ international funding and registration through a verification process. Drawing on 12 months of ethnographic research in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, this article explores how community‐based organizations mediate Kenyan state control through verification. The article develops the concept of “stateness” to examine how refugee actors claim legitimacy as a state function. Stateness is generated by members of community‐based organizations through practices involving fellow refugees and Kenyan state actors. Using stateness, this article seeks to draw attention to how refugees can become a part of wider state apparatus and shape how the state is constituted within the camp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the association between exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and symptoms of depression among a sample of married refugee men. The study recruited a convenient sample of 539 married Syrian refugee men residing in refugee camps and other locations in Jordan between 2021-2022. A cross-sectional, correlational design was employed. IPV and symptoms of depression among the participants were assessed by the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) and the Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. The findings of the study revealed a moderate prevalence of depression among the refugee men, with the most experienced types of IPV being the absence of negotiation with partners, psychological violence, physical violence, and injury. Significant positive correlations were observed between all types of IPV and symptoms of depression. It was determined that approximately 80% of the variation in symptoms of depression could be explained by the combination of the four types of IPV. Psychological violence was the strongest predictor for symptoms of depression followed by the absence of negotiation between partners and the occurrence of injury. Offering recommendations for interventions would aid in the development of effective strategies and support systems aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of IPV on the mental well-being of married refugee men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Stigma towards sexually active young people presents profound barriers to uptake of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including HIV testing and contraception. Yet, few studies have examined adolescent SRH stigma trajectories over time. To address this knowledge gap, we examined associations between social-ecological factors and trajectories of adolescent SRH stigma among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. Methods. This longitudinal cohort study with refugee youth in Kampala collected data on adolescent SRH stigma at four time-points between 2022 and 2024. We used latent class growth analyses to examine distinct trajectories of adolescent SRH stigma, and examined baseline social-ecological and socio-demographic factors associated with class membership using multivariable logistic regression. Results. Among the participants (n = 164 with n = 668 observations; mean age 19.9 years, standard deviation 2.5 years; 52.8% cisgender women), we categorised two distinct adolescent SRH stigma trajectories: consistently high (n = 496; 74.2%) and sustained low (n = 172; 25.8%). In multivariable analyses, living in Uganda =1 year at baseline assessment (1-5 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.28, confidence interval [CI] 2.29-12.19, P < 0.001; 6-10 years: aOR 6.20, CI 2.61-14.69, P < 0.001; or >10 years: aOR 3.89, CI 1.56-9.68, P < 0.01) compared with <1 year, unemployment (aOR 1.62, CI 1.02-2.56, P < 0.05), having children (aOR 2.84, CI 1.30-6.21, P < 0.05), past 3-month multiple sexual partners (aOR 6.14, CI 1.73-21.75, P < 0.01) and higher depression symptoms (aOR 1.04, CI 1.01-1.08, P < 0.01) were associated with the consistently high (vs sustained low) adolescent SRH stigma trajectory. Conclusions. Social-ecological and socio-demographic factors were associated with consistently high levels of adolescent SRH stigma over 2 years. Multi-level strategies can meaningfully engage youth in developing stigma reduction strategies for SRH service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent youth occupy a critical and complex position in refugee families who resettle in a third country. Objectives: We examined the potential impact of health- and family-related factors on the social and behavioral adjustment outcomes of refugee adolescent youth. Methods: Situated within an explanatory sequential mixed methods study, we used unadjusted and adjusted multinomial logistic regression to identify trauma, health, and socioecological characteristics of war-affected families associated with social and behavioral adjustment in 72 Karen adolescent youth resettled in the United States. Results: Factors related to the health and well-being of war-affected families, including parent mental and physical health, youth-reported family function, housing, and parent employment demonstrated important associations with youth adjustment. Conclusion: These findings, originating within the complex dynamics of resettled war-affected families, demonstrated the interconnectedness of adolescent and parent experiences and opportunities to advance resilience in youth navigating integration and supporting their families through those same processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Refugees typically experience poorer health compared with people from non-refugee backgrounds, and health literacy may play a part in this discrepancy. Using the WHO's revised health literacy definitions as a framework, this qualitative study sought to examine the health literacy experiences and practices of Australian resettled refugees from Myanmar from refugee and service provider perspectives. Methods: Four refugee participant focus groups (n = 27) along with one focus group and four interviews with service providers (n = 7) were conducted in Melbourne, Australia, and analysed using deductive content analysis. Results: Our study found that in addition to individual health literacy, community literacy was practiced by Myanmar refugees, thus highlighting the relevance of social support to health literacy. Furthermore, our study found gaps in healthcare service provision and resourcing related to health literacy development and responsiveness by the healthcare system. Conclusions: Our study confirms the relevance of WHO's revised health literacy definitions to Myanmar refugees while also discussing, in the context of nutrition and dietetics practice, the importance of understanding the different aspects of health literacy and how this relates to working with those who are most marginalised to improve their health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is increasingly considered vital for addressing the needs of displaced communities. The mental health of young people in Lebanon, including members of the host community and refugees, has been severely affected by multiple crises. Physical activity (PA) is an effective means for enhancing mental health, but evidence of PA's impact on mental health among forcibly displaced populations is still emerging and often varies widely across studies. Method: In this waitlist-controlled study, we examined the effectiveness of an 8-week psychosocial bouldering group intervention offered by the nonprofit organization ClimbAID on psychological well-being, distress, self-efficacy, and social cohesion in a group of mostly Syrian refugee adolescents residing in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions and took place once a week for 2 h in a group of up to 12 adolescents with 2 trained facilitators and up to 2 volunteers, supervised by a climbing instructor and a social worker. Multilevel analyses were performed for all outcomes. Results: 233 people were included in the study. The dropout rate was approximately 33%. The IG improved significantly more than the waitlist group in terms of overall mental well-being and psychological distress. Group allocation was a significant predictor of improvements in mental well-being and psychological distress and showed a trend toward predicting self-efficacy. There was no positive impact of the intervention on social cohesion. Conclusions: Even in complex humanitarian settings of forced displacement, a psychosocial bouldering intervention reduces psychological distress and increases well-being in a mixed group of host and refugee youth in Bekaa, Lebanon. Trial registration: Prospectively registered with ISRCTN 13005983, registered April 1st, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain(CPP) in refugee and non-refugee women, determine the factors associated with CPP, and evaluate the effect of CPP on life quality. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 283 non-refugee and 278 refugee women in Turkey. A questionnaire including questions assessing chronic pelvic pain and related factors, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form(WHOQOL-BREF), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, were administered to the participants. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain was 41.0% in refugee women and 19.1% in non-refugee women (p< 0.001). The prevalence of CPP was 1.68 times higher in refugee women than in non-refugee women (OR;95%CI:1.68;1.01–2.81). In the multivariate analysis performed in the study group, refugee status, low family income status(OR;95%CI:2.09;1.26–3.46), low back pain(OR;95%CI:2.02;1.21–3.35), dyspareunia (OR; 95%CI:2.96;1.75–4.99), number of three or more miscarriages (OR;95%CI:3.07;1.18–8.01), history of gynaecological surgery (OR;95%CI:2.44;1.33–4.50), diarrhea (OR;95%CI:2.01;1.07–3.76), urinary tract infections(OR; 95%CI:1.66;1.02–2.71) and anxiety(OR; 95%CI:1.17;1.10–1.24) were found to be risk factors for CPP. In the refugee and non-refugee groups, those with CPP had lower scores in all subdomains of the WHOQOL-BREF scale than those without CPP (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Refugee status independently contributes to the risk of developing CPP. Targeted interventions to address CPP and its associated risk factors are needed, particularly in vulnerable refugee populations, to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Refugee minors are considered particularly vulnerable to negative health consequences from war, flight and resettlement. Offering health assessments after arrival in a host country could uncover unmet health needs and provide access to treatment. In Norway, a national guide describes these assessments, but little is known about its implementation especially for refugee minors. Thus, the aim of this study was first to explore how health assessments of refugee minors are carried out, second how health professionals perceive the needs of refugee minors and third, the competencies they perceive as necessary to meet the needs of refugee minors. Method: A modified Delphi study in three rounds was conducted using online surveys and one focus group to collect data on the needs and resources of refugee minors, essential factors for a good and health assessment practice. Participants were 54 health professionals responsible for early health assessments of refugee minors, throughout the Norwegian municipalities, working in primary care settings. Quantitative data was analysed descriptively, and qualitative data with content analysis. Results: Health assessments of refugee minors were predominantly conducted by public health nurses, but the organisational structures surrounding assessments varied greatly according to the size of the municipalities and to how much resources were allocated. The feeling of safety was found to be paramount to ensure a good start in a new country for refugee minors. The top four competences professionals should have, were 'general communication skills', a 'health professional background', 'expertise in children's health' and 'knowledge about the national guide'. To ensure good health services for refugee minors, improved, more comprehensive, and mandatory directives for children and young individuals was highlighted. Conclusion: Although most refugee minors were invited and attend health assessments, one third of participating municipalities did not offer health assessments to all newcomers and the organisation and content of the assessments were diverse. Several topics, especially mental health, were postponed or not routinely addressed, contrasting with current knowledge of unmet health needs for this group. Missing documentation, practical barriers and providing general health information took time away from doing the actual assessments. The perceived needs of refugee minors were safety and stability, combined with meaningful activities, thus a coordinated effort from several services is necessary. Suggestions for improvements were more time given to assessments, better organisation and co-operation, improved competence and guidelines adjusted for age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the meaning that refugee solidarity activists supporting people on the move across the Western Balkans migratory route and at the Italian–French border attribute to the notion of 'care', which they use to define their solidarity practices, particularly in the aftermath of the global pandemic. By means of a content analysis of in-depth interviews with representatives of grassroots solidarity groups, the article demonstrates that 'care' is conceived of as having a political character, as it responds to both the crisis of health care and the restrictions on freedom of movement; a non-hierarchical connotation, which informs in- and out-group relationships; and a transformative orientation, as acts of care prefigure a society in which freedom of movement and health rights are granted to all, in contrast to the existing model of migration governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, scholars of migration have created several new immigration policy indexes, but most existing databases have limited temporal scope. They also focus, to a large extent, on the Global North. In this research note, we introduce the Historical Immigration Policy dataset (HIP), which begins to fill these gaps. We first provide an overview of the data and then describe how they offer new insights into immigration policy. We make three empirical observations. (1) On average, democracies are less open to immigration than authoritarian states but grant resident migrants more rights. (2) European states were open to immigration earlier than standard accounts of global migration assume. (3) Historically, openness to immigration and inclusive rights for resident migrants have often been complements, not substitutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with refugee backgrounds are often exposed to violence and other adverse experiences with well-known detrimental consequences on mental health. However, the current group of approximately 40 million child refugees is heterogeneous, stressing the importance of first-person perspectives in understanding children's unique experiences and needs related to the migration process. Identifying contextual factors promoting health and resilience is also essential. For instance, the roles children play as active agents in constructing their own lives and adapting to different environments are poorly described in contemporary research on child refugees and their mental health. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted qualitative interviews with a reflexive thematic analysis with eighteen children with refugee backgrounds in Sweden. This resulted in two main themes: Longing for a good life that cannot be taken for granted and Challenged agency and changing rights. The narratives indicate that children, although exposed to different challenges in different migration phases and based on gender and asylum status, have experiences of ordinary childhood with a desire for a good life with prospects. The results also show that children execute active and adaptable agency that is impacted by various factors. Reaching the full age appears to be a confusing and ambivalent transition due to changes in rights. The results pinpoint several possibilities to address factors that pose a risk to health and restrictions of rights among child refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/aim: Turkey has experienced a heavy migration burden in recent years due to its location and benevolent policies. This study aimed to retrospectively examine and discuss the reports prepared for foreign nationals who requested assistance at the Forensic Medicine Department of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital in Tokat, which is located in the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey, between 2014 and 2022. Materials and methods: This study retrospectively evaluated reports prepared between 2014 and 2022 in the outpatient clinics of Forensic Medicine at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital. Results: Based on the files reviewed, 219 cases were included in the study, of which 70.8% (n = 155) were male and 29.2% (n = 64) were female. Among the 75 cases referred by judicial authorities, 34.6% (n = 26) involved assault, 28% (n = 21) involved determination of the ability to understand the legal significance and consequences of the act, 16% (n = 12) involved traffic accidents, 8% (n = 6) involved poisoning, 9.3% (n = 7) involved abuse, and 4% (n = 3) involved age determinations. Discussion: Problems with immigrants, which have always been a reality due to Turkey's location on migration routes, have increased significantly in recent years. For this reason, we believe that studies with multicenter and larger series should be conducted to determine the current situation that foreigners create for themselves and Turkey to facilitate necessary arrangements, determine proposed solutions, increase the quality of services offered, and develop plans for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of people in exile is rising. Sexual and ethnic minority refugee and asylum-seeking people present with special needs. This study utilised a collective narrative participatory design to explore how storying collective ways of resisting the effects of trauma, amongst gay and lesbian forced migrant people of Black African and Asian backgrounds in an urban context (London, UK) can be constitutive of healing. To do this, purposeful sampling procedures were pursued. Data collection was through individual and group format story telling sessions. Both sessions were structured around a co-constructed metaphor 'Passport of Life'. Narrative analysis was employed to examine the data, co-shaped with participants. Findings indicate that participants' (collective) storytelling is crafted as a site for resistances to emerge and be re-affirmed. Resistance pathways are inextricably linked to participants' diverse subjectivities. Healing is constituted as a dynamic process, bound by narrated and physical configurations of spaces of togetherness, which have re-definitional, hope-inducing, and social justice properties. The results support the use of participatory and narrative means for expanding (untold) stories of overcoming and supporting opportunities for healing and redress amongst this population. Implications for policy making, research, and psychological practice are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores lay perceptions of mental health among Afghan forced migrants in Finland. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants. Reflexive thematic analysis was used as the method of analysis. The analysis produced two main themes: external symptoms (changes in physical appearance and behavior) and internal symptoms (burdensome feelings and sensations). Participants rarely used explicit mental health terminology, preferring nuanced culture-specific, individual expressions, and indirect communication about stress and trauma. This study contributes to the understanding of Afghan forced migrants' lay perceptions of mental health and calls for culturally-safe approaches in social work and mental health services for forced migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the ways in which the University of Birmingham assisted refugee academics and students from Nazi Germany and other Nazi occupied countries across Europe between 1933 and 1945. It draws on the university's rich but underused archives to explore institutional policy and to assess the influence of individual staff members in driving it. As a case study it examines and evaluates the role played by a British provincial university in supporting displaced academics before the Second World War and refugee students during the war. Analysis of the primary source material reveals the importance of personal connections and the agency of individual university staff in helping refugees. This study aids our understanding of the roles played by British universities in helping displaced scholars and identifies areas for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to systemic violence and human rights violations in Myanmar, many ethnic minorities, including Karen, have fled the country. Many Karen refugees from camps in Thailand and Malaysia were resettled in the United States. Despite having access to multiple resources and opportunities, the Karen face challenges related to health, housing, education, employment, and culture. This paper aims to broaden our understanding of the needs and challenges of Karen refugees living in Hartford, Connecticut, through a qualitative, narrative-based research study. Lessons learned will help nongovernmental organizations, mental health professionals, and social workers to develop and implement programs and policies for refugee resettlement and integration in a culturally competent manner that is based on the values, strengths, and resilience of the refugee Karen community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Rohingya crisis has been a significant issue for national and international news media, capturing their attention for an extended period and documenting various phases of the crisis. Previous research exploring the tones and portrayal of the Rohingyas in the news lacks comparative and temporal analysis of news sentiments. In this study, we aim to fill this gap by analyzing 8074 news stories on Rohingya issues published in 10 news media outlets from 10 countries between 2009 and 2023. Our computational sentiment analysis reveals that Rohingya-related news sentiments are predominantly negative and fluctuate over the years across different countries, showing little identifiable patterns. An ANOVA suggests significant variation in news sentiments among countries, with some countries exhibiting more similar sentiments than others, thus creating distinguishable groups. Some of our findings contradict previous scholarships, warranting further research and novel frameworks. Additionally, we encourage scrutiny of academic insights to address potential biases against news media's journalistic integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to map research literature on intergenerational contact in refugee and international migration contexts. Using database searches on Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Education Research Complete, we identified 649 potentially relevant studies, of which 134 met the inclusion criteria and are mapped in the article by themes, date of publication, geographical distribution, study design, and targeted population. The review has been developed with input from migrant and refugee charities, and it identifies research trends in the field as well as multiple gaps in the literature. The results highlight the complex ways in which intergenerational contact impacts psycho-social wellbeing and integration, health, and education outcomes for both refugees and other migrant groups. Much of the research to date has focused on relationships within families. Studies exploring the potential tensions and benefits of intergenerational contact between refugees/migrants and members of the broader community are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project examines the experiences of four individuals working in refugee resettlement and their perspectives on the educational needs of refugee students, given their role as boundary spanners. They also discuss the need for teachers to encourage students to use the Funds of Knowledge in the classroom. Participants discuss their varied experience as professionals in refugee resettlement, with two being refugees and one being an immigrant. This paper (1) explores the stress associated with relocation, (2) delves into the mental health issues faced by individuals from refugee backgrounds, emphasizing trauma, (3) analyzes how inefficiencies and lack of support within the public school system contribute to a stressful and ineffective experience for all parties involved, and (4) highlights the importance of human connection. The implications for future research are also discussed with particular attention paid to the need to actively work with other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Displaced young people are at risk of adverse effects on their psychological wellbeing due to their experiences of war and resettlement. Art therapy can offer a safe space in which to address trauma and promote resilience. Context: This paper describes art therapy with a group of displaced Ukrainians aged 13–16 in a British secondary school. It focuses on the activity of making hanging mobiles in order to explore conflicted feelings around home and belonging. Approach: The intervention was informed by theories of resilience, with the intention of preventing the negative effects of traumatic experience by providing opportunities for creativity and reflection. The need of young refugees to experience psychological safety in order to continue with the developmental tasks of adolescence was also considered. Outcomes: Half of the group found the activity beneficial in gaining insight into conflicting feelings around belonging and providing a positive experience of agency and control through creativity. The other half of the group benefitted less and found it difficult to reflect on their artmaking. 'Feelings' Cups', an outcome measure devised for the group, was used alongside the YP-Core (Clinical Outcomes for Routine Evaluation for Young People) together with verbal and written feedback. Conclusions: The mobile-making activity has potential for use with dislocated young people and others in a position of uncertainty and change. Implications for research: There is a need for more research to examine and evidence the role art therapy can play in promoting resilience in displaced young people. Plain-language summary: This paper describes art therapy with a group of displaced Ukrainians aged 13–16 in a British secondary school. It focuses on the activity of constructing hanging mobiles to help explore difficult feelings around home and belonging. Refugees find it distressing to be without a home until they are able to resettle in a safe place. Adolescents may find it particularly difficult because they are already struggling with issues of identity and belonging as they move from childhood to adulthood. The mobile-making activity was designed to use creativity and insight to help build resilience. When young people are more resilient, they will suffer less from traumatic experiences. To measure changes during therapy, a form, 'Feelings' Cups', was devised for the group and used alongside a standard form together with verbal and written feedback from the young people. Half of the group found the mobile-making activity helpful. It gave them a positive feeling of being in control and helped them to think about their feelings. The other half of the group did not find the activity helpful. They did not enjoy the artmaking and found it too difficult to think about their feelings. For some refugees this activity might be helpful and could be used again. It is necessary to carry out more research to find out exactly how art therapy can help young people become more resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Globally, teenage pregnancy is a public health problem. Low- and middle-income countries in the Sub-Saharan region are more affected with teenage pregnancy. It is worse with teenage girls who have other vulnerabilities like living in refugee camps. However, there is little information about teenage pregnancy in refugee camps especially in resource limited areas like Northern Uganda. Objective To determine the prevalence and the factors associated with teenage pregnancy among refugees in Palabek refugee settlement, Northern Uganda. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. The study estimated a total sample size of 316 teenage girls and they were sampled using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaire. Conditional logistics regression was employed to identify the associated factors for teenage pregnancy. Results A total of 306 teenagers participated in the study with a response rate of 98.6%. The study showed that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement, Northern Uganda was 41.2%. The factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement included: being in the 15–19 years age group (AOR = 6.3, 95%CI: 1.8–22.8), not being in school (AOR = 5, 95%CI: 2.3–10.9), not being married (AOR = 0.2, 95%CI: 0.1–0.5), delayed sexual debut (AOR = 2.4, 95%CI: 1.1–5.5), having multiple sexual partners (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7), alcohol use (AOR = 6.7, 95%CI: 2.2–18.4), being aware of sexual reproductive health services (AOR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.9), and having divorced families (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2–4.9). Conclusion Study results reveal that 4 in 10 teenage girls in Palabek, Northern Uganda, are pregnant, influenced by individual, community, and health system factors. This highlights vulnerabilities in refugee camps, urging prioritization of sexual and reproductive health for adolescent girls in refugee camps.

Background Informing local decision-making, improving service delivery and designing household surveys require having access to high-spatial resolution mapping of the targeted population. However, this detailed spatial information remains unavailable for specific population subgroups, such as refugees, a vulnerable group that would significantly benefit from focused interventions. Given the continuous increase in the number of refugees, reaching an all-time high of 35.3 million people in 2022, it is imperative to develop models that can accurately inform about their spatial locations, enabling better and more tailored assistance. Methods We leverage routinely collected registration data on refugees and combine it with high-resolution population maps, satellite imagery derived settlement maps and other spatial covariates to disaggregate observed refugee totals into 100-m grid cells. We suggest a deterministic grid cell allocation inside monitored refugee sites based on building count and a random-forest-derived grid cell allocation outside refugee sites based on geolocating the textual geographic information in the refugee register and on high-resolution population mapping. We test the method in Cameroon using the registration database monitored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Results Using OpenStreetMap, 83% of the manually inputted information in the registration database could be geolocated. The building footprint layer derived from satellite imagery by Ecopia AI offers extensive coverage within monitored refugee sites, although manual digitization was still required in rapidly evolving settings. The high-resolution mapping of refugees on a 100-m grid basis provides an unparalleled level of spatial detail, enabling valuable geospatial insights for informed local decision-making. Conclusions Gathering information on forcibly displaced persons in sparse data-setting environment can quickly become very costly. Therefore, it is critical to gain the most knowledge from operational data that is frequently collected, such as registration databases. Integrating it with ancillary information derived from satellite imagery paves the way for obtaining more timely and spatially precise information to better deliver services and enhance sampling frame for target data collection exercises that further improves the quality of information on people in need.

ÖZ: Bu çalışmada II. Abdülhamid döneminden II. Meşrutiyet dönemine miras kalan Osmanlı Devlet’in göç politikası, Kürt muhacir ve mülteciler özelinde karşılaştırmalı bir şekilde değerlendirilmektedir. Buna göre II. Abdülhamid döneminde, yoğun bir Müslüman muhacir topluluğunun Osmanlı topraklarına gelmesine, Müslüman nüfusun artmasına yol açacağı için olumsuz bir nazarla bakılmadığı görülmektedir. Zira çoğunluğunu Kafkasya’dan gelenlerin oluşturduğu bu muhacirler; savaş, kıtlık, Kürt aşiretlerinin saldırıları veya ekonomik sıkıntılardan ötürü çareyi göç etmekte bulan Ermenilerin bıraktıkları topraklara iskân edilecekleri için doğuda daha güvenli bir bölge oluşturulabilecektir. Bu yaklaşım Meşrutiyet’in ilanından bir süre sonra devam etse de zaman içerisinde bazı değişiklikler yaşanmış, özellikle Türkçülük düşüncesinin bürokraside hâkim olması nedeniyle Müslüman muhacirlerin iskânında İslamî bakış açısının yerini daha çok milliyet eksenli bir anlayış almıştır. Öyle ki Birinci Dünya Savaşı’nda savaş mıntıkalarından kaçmak zorunda kalan çok sayıda Kürt mülteci, milliyet ekseninde iskân edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Böyle bir politika izlenmesindeki temel amaç ise göçebe-yarı göçebe bir yaşam sürdüren Kürtlerin, Türklerin çoğunlukta olduğu Anadolu içlerine iskân edilerek yerleşik hayata geçişlerinin sağlanmasıdır. Bu sayede, vergi ve askerlik gibi birtakım mükellefiyetleri yerine getirecekleri planlanmış; kimliklerini, yaşam tarzlarını değiştirmeleriyle birlikte ise faydalı bir unsur olmaları hedeflenmiştir. ABSTRACT: The present study comparatively analyzed the migration policy of the Ottoman Empire inherited from the reign of Abdülhamid II to the Second Constitutional Period, with a special focus on Kurdish muhajirs (migrants, coined from the Arabic word meaning “one who migrated from Mecca to Medina”) and refugees. In this regard, it was observed that the arrival of a significantly large Muslim muhajir group to the Ottoman lands was not viewed negatively during the reign of Abdülhamid II, as it would lead to an increase in the Muslim population. The reason behind this was that these muhajirs, the majority of whom came from the Caucasus, would be settled in the lands left by Armenians who had migrated due to war, famine, attacks by Kurdish tribes, or economic difficulties, and thus a safer region could be created in the east. Although this approach was maintained for an extended period of time after the proclamation of the Constitutional Monarchy, certain changes occurred over time, and the Islamic perspective was replaced by a more nationalist-oriented understanding in the resettlement of Muslim muhajirs, especially as the Turkist idea became dominant in the bureaucracy. Thus, attempts were made to settle many Kurdish refugees fleeing from the war zones during the First World War on the axis of nationality. The main purpose of such a policy was to ensure that the Kurds, who led a nomadic or semi-nomadic life, were settled in Anatolia, where Turks were the majority. In this way, it was envisioned that they would fulfill certain obligations, such as taxation and military service, and that by changing their identities and lifestyles, could become a useful element.

Abstract Background This paper examines the frequency of suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation or attempt) among a sample of Syrian refugee women living in non-camp settings in Jordan. We asked several questions surrounding suicide and examined the associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social connectedness, post-displacement stressors and suicidal behaviors. Methods Participants (n = 507) were recruited using a clinic-based systematic sampling from four health clinics throughout Jordan in 2018. We used a multivariable logistic regression to examine the hypothesis of whether positive screening for PTSD (PCL-5), social isolation (have no friends or family members available to help), and greater number of post-displacement stressors (PMLD Checklist) is associated with suicidal behaviors. Results Approximately one-tenth (9.86%) of participants surveyed reported suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation or attempt) in the past six months. Our hypothesis was partially supported. In the adjusted multivariable analyses, screening positive for PTSD [OR:4.02 (95% CI:1.33, 12.15)] increased odds of suicidal behaviors, while having one friend or family member available to help when in need [OR:0.31 (95% CI:0.13, 0.78)] decreased odds of suicidal behaviors. We did not find any associations between the number of post-displacement stressors and suicidal behaviors in the multivariable model. Conclusion Agencies and practitioners addressing suicidal behaviors among Syrian refugee women should provide interventions that aim to reduce PTSD symptoms and social isolation. Potential intervention includes screening for mental health symptoms and suicidal behaviors during routine visits with service providers, as well as providing proper mental health and psychosocial support services according to the mapping of available services.

Abstract Background Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is increasingly considered vital for addressing the needs of displaced communities. The mental health of young people in Lebanon, including members of the host community and refugees, has been severely affected by multiple crises. Physical activity (PA) is an effective means for enhancing mental health, but evidence of PA’s impact on mental health among forcibly displaced populations is still emerging and often varies widely across studies. Method In this waitlist-controlled study, we examined the effectiveness of an 8-week psychosocial bouldering group intervention offered by the nonprofit organization ClimbAID on psychological well-being, distress, self-efficacy, and social cohesion in a group of mostly Syrian refugee adolescents residing in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions and took place once a week for 2 h in a group of up to 12 adolescents with 2 trained facilitators and up to 2 volunteers, supervised by a climbing instructor and a social worker. Multilevel analyses were performed for all outcomes. Results 233 people were included in the study. The dropout rate was approximately 33%. The IG improved significantly more than the waitlist group in terms of overall mental well-being and psychological distress. Group allocation was a significant predictor of improvements in mental well-being and psychological distress and showed a trend toward predicting self-efficacy. There was no positive impact of the intervention on social cohesion. Conclusions Even in complex humanitarian settings of forced displacement, a psychosocial bouldering intervention reduces psychological distress and increases well-being in a mixed group of host and refugee youth in Bekaa, Lebanon. Trial registration Prospectively registered with ISRCTN 13005983, registered April 1st, 2022.