Perceived Needs Among Asylum Seekers in Sweden: A Mixed Methods Study.

Karin Hugelius,Maya Semrau,Marie Holmefur

doi:10.3390/ijerph17144983

Abstract

The health and well-being of asylum seekers in high-income countries is a concern from both individual and community perspectives. This study aims to describe the perceived needs of adult asylum seekers in Sweden. A mixed methods study was conducted that combined a non-randomized descriptive cross-sectional assessment of perceived serious needs using the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER) Web with 85 adult asylum seekers and focus group discussions with 14 adult asylum seekers in Sweden. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used for the quantitative part, and thematic analysis for the qualitative part. The total number of perceived serious needs reported by respondents ranged from zero to 13 needs per person with a mean of four needs (SD 2.71). The most commonly perceived serious needs were related to income or livelihood, separation from loved ones, being displaced from home, distress, and concerns about accessing adequate health care services. Many of the perceived needs appeared to be related to experiences of being dependent, in limbo, and vulnerable. Addressing people’s current perceived needs can contribute to resilience and well-being and therefore should be considered in health care systems that cater to immigrants.

Highlights

The total number of people living in a country other than their country of birth is increasing due to conflicts and humanitarian emergencies
99 adult asylum seekers participated in the study
Perceived needs among the adult asylum seekers in this study were related mainly to income or livelihood, separation from loved ones, being displaced from home, distress, and concerns about accessing adequate health care services

Summary

Introduction

The total number of people living in a country other than their country of birth is increasing due to conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. Most of the refugees are internal, displaced within their own country, but some immigrate to other countries temporarily or permanently. Individuals seeking international protection but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined, can be considered to be a vulnerable population given factors such as immigration status, the upheaval of moving from one’s homeland to a very different society, socioeconomic factors, use and access to health care services, and exposure to trauma [2]. The health and well-being of asylum seekers is a concern both from an individual perspective and a national health view. Many asylum seekers and refugees in Sweden have experienced a poor quality of life [7,8]

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Conclusion