Host Communities Research Articles

Helminth parasites of terrestrial and freshwater chelonians in the Neotropical region: Biogeographic distribution and new record for Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) (Testudines: Chelidae) in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

The Neotropical region is considered a biodiversity hotspot for reptiles, with eight families of terrestrial and freshwater chelonians. Parasites are of great importance to aquatic ecosystems and are essential to host communities. They help understand the patterns and phylogenetic relationships of their hosts and act to control populations. A literature survey on helminth parasites of chelonians in the Neotropical region was conducted, examining the most commonly found groups of helminths, the most parasitized hosts, compiling their biogeographical and political distribution and recording the parasite fauna of Phrynops geoffroanus in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Considering the literature from 1850 to 2024, 202 helminth taxa were recorded. The Mesoamerican dominion had the highest number of helminth taxa, and Brazil was the political unit that recorded the most helminth taxa, followed by Mexico. Nematoda was the group with the highest number of taxa and occurred in all biogeographical units, with the species Spiroxys contortus being the most commonly found, followed by Trematoda, represented by the most commonly found species, Nematophila grandis. Hosts from the Chelidae family had the highest number of helminth taxa, followed by the Kinosternidae family. The most parasitized host species were Chelonoidis denticulatus and Phrynops hilarii. For the host Phrynops geoffroanus, the first occurrence of the nematode helminth Spiroxys contortus was recorded. This is the first study to include all parasitic helminths of terrestrial and freshwater chelonians in the Neotropical region, including a new occurrence in a chelonian host in the hinterland of Paraíba, Brazil.

Dialoguing for Peaceful Coexistence Among Migrants and Host Communities in Artisanal And Small-Scale Mining in Ghana

Purpose: This study examined the structures and strategies for managing and resolving conflicts that promote peaceful coexistence among migrants and host communities in Ghana's artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study uses primary and secondary sources of data, relying on extensive document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Three communities in the Birim North District, Akoase, Noyem, and Nyafoman, were selected for this study. The snowball sampling technique was employed to select eighty young miners, comprising 50 migrants and 30 from each host community. The data were transcribed, coded, and sorted into themes using computer-based software (NVivo) to aid the overall data analysis. Research Implication: The study was limited by its inability to constitute a representative sample through random sampling procedures, which greatly affected the generalisability of the findings. Findings: The results revealed that conflicts and tensions have not led to the disintegration of relationships and communities despite their frequency. The formation of mining committees, recognition of the reciprocal benefits of collaboration, and belief in the abilities and influence of the supernatural that bestow are a few of the structures and methods for resolving disputes that promote peace. Practical Implication: The practical implications centre on the appropriateness of including migrants on mining committees as liaisons between migrants and communities. This tends to promote inclusivity, agency, and involvement in decision-making. Social Implication: The influx of migrants to gold-rich communities is often accompanied by conflicts, frequently initiated by indigenes who perceive that migrants are being granted the same rights to their lands. Despite its prevalence, this does not lead to the disintegration of relations or the communities involved. This is because the actors institute measures to resolve conflicts promptly. Originality/Value: The uniqueness of this paper aligns with the ongoing debate about the illegal mining menace in Ghana, which has led to the destruction of major water bodies and ecosystems.

The use of mobile learning: a pathway towards refugees’ inclusion

ABSTRACT Refugees face numerous challenges during their displacement and resettlement journey toward the important goal of achieving social inclusion in their host communities. This outcome supposes that refugees gain access to education and lifelong learning. The aim of this paper is to understand the capabilities offered by mobile learning for urban refugees. The research applied the capability-approach lens and analyzed empirical data collected from twelve interviews with Non-Governmental Organization representatives delivering education services and four focus groups with Syrian refugees having received non-formal education through mobile devices. The findings show that the use of mobile devices for refugees' education allows the development of three capabilities: re-skilling, socialization and community involvement, and autonomy. The study also highlights the need for resources and conversion factors such as tutoring and cultural and linguistic compatibility. The study provides policymakers with insights about the capabilities generated from the use of mobile devices for the education of refugees.

The potential impacts of vector host species fidelity on zoonotic arbovirus transmission.

The interaction between vector host preference and host availability on vector blood feeding behaviour has important implications for the transmission of vector-borne pathogens. However, to our knowledge, the effect of bias towards feeding on the same host species from which a first meal was taken, termed fidelity, has not been quantified. Using a mathematical model we showed that vector fidelity to the host species they take a first blood meal from leads to non-homogeneous mixing between hosts and vectors. Taking Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) as a case study, we investigated how vector preference for amplifying vs dead-end hosts and fidelity can influence JEV transmission. We show that in regions where pigs (amplifying hosts) are scarce compared to cattle (dead-end hosts preferred by common JEV vectors), JEV could still be maintained through vector fidelity. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering fidelity as a potential driver of transmission, particularly in scenarios such as Bangladesh and India where the composition of the host community might initially suggest that transmission is not possible.

Displacement and Disease: HIV Risks and Healthcare Gaps Among Refugee Populations

Forced displacement exacerbates health vulnerabilities, particularly regarding HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Refugees often experience heightened exposure to HIV due to precarious living conditions, sexual violence, and healthcare access barriers. Background: Structural inequalities, legal precarity, and stigma hinder HIV care for refugees, especially in resource-limited settings. Excluded from national health prog0rams, refugees often depend on underfunded humanitarian aid. Cultural stigma, limited awareness, and mobility constraints further heighten their vulnerability. Methods: This study draws on a review of peer-reviewed articles, policy documents, and case studies from refugee-hosting countries. It examines healthcare access, service provision gaps, and policy responses to HIV among displaced populations. Results: The article highlights systemic barriers to HIV services, including inadequate testing, inconsistent treatment availability, and cultural barriers to care. Policy frameworks often fail to integrate refugees into national HIV programs, exacerbating health disparities. Conclusions: The exclusion of refugees from national healthcare, compounded by stigma and mobility constraints, deepens health disparities and heightens HIV transmission risks. Without targeted interventions and inclusive health systems, refugees face disproportionate HIV-related morbidity, endangering broader public health in host communities.

LEARNING TO BELONG: AFGHAN NEWCOMER CHILDREN AND THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF AMERICAN SCHOOLS

There are important psychological, social, and cultural issues involved in the assimilation of Afghan refugees into American society. After the U.S. exited Afghanistan, Afghan refugees were temporarily detained in camps before being relocated around the U.S. Although they have survived the immediate danger, the impact of war, displacement, and detention has resulted in the refugees suffering chronic psychological trauma including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. These mental health conditions, along with cultural differences and difficulty acclimating to American social customs, add a layer of complication to the integration process. In this paper, the most important issues confronting foreign refugees are analyzed, and field-tested policy recommendations that can help to reconstruct and integrate this population into American life are formulated. The study employs a combination of methods such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, and case studies to better understand the experiences of Afghan refugees and the opinions of the American host communities. Results show that there are strong societal concerns toward refugee integration that can, however, be overcome by well-organized supporting measures. Other recommendations include gradual acclimation to the community, compulsory psychosocial support, and the development of cultural awareness programs for both refugees and host populations. Furthermore, targeted educational bridging programs are proposed for refugee children, aimed at covering the educational gap and supporting emotional development. It is particularly important to have mechanisms for continued monitoring of integration outcomes in the long term so that refugees are not left behind and are encouraged as they adjust to stable lives. The U.S. can make it easier for Afghans to be absorbed into society with the right policy recommendations in place. Given long-term planning and consistent support, refugees are able to start afresh and contribute to the social and cultural tapestry of this country.

Soil viral communities shifted significantly after wildfire in chaparral and woodland habitats

Abstract Increased wildfire activity warrants more research into fire-driven biotic changes in soil, including to soil viral communities, given the roles of soil microbes in organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and post-fire recovery. Leveraging viral size-fraction metagenomes (viromes), here we studied viral community responses to wildfire in woodland and chaparral soils at five timepoints over one year following the California LNU Complex wildfire. We also compared post-fire samples to unburned controls at the final three timepoints and leveraged published viromes from the same sites nine months before the fire as pre-burn controls. Viral community composition differed significantly in burned samples compared to controls from both habitats, as did soil chemistry and prokaryotic communities (16S rRNA gene amplicons). Viromic DNA yields (a proxy for viral particle abundances) indicated initial viral biomass reductions due to the fire but a return to baseline abundances (indistinguishable from controls) within five months. Fire-associated habitat filtering was further indicated by a comparison to the PIGEON viral ‘species’ (vOTU) reference database, with vOTUs from a burned conifer forest representing 19-31% of PIGEON vOTUs detected in the burned habitats but only 0.6-6% in controls. Together, these results indicate significant changes in soil viral communities due to wildfire, attributable at least in part to concomitant changes in their prokaryotic host communities and soil physicochemistry.

Economic Impact of Kumbh Mela on Local Communities and Spiritual Tourism

Abstract The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, has profound economic implications for its host communities and the broader sector of spiritual tourism in India. This study examines the direct and indirect economic impacts of the festival on local businesses, infrastructure, employment, and the rise of spiritual tourism. Data was collected from tourism reports, government statistics, and surveys with local vendors, hotel owners, and service providers. The findings reveal that Kumbh Mela generates significant revenue for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and leads to substantial infrastructure investments, positively impacting the local economy even after the event concludes. However, the festival also poses environmental challenges and strains public resources, raising concerns about sustainability. This paper provides a balanced analysis of the economic benefits and costs, along with policy recommendations to enhance the socio-economic advantages while addressing environmental and logistical challenges. The research underscores the importance of sustainable development in maximizing the economic potential of spiritual tourism, offering insights for future events and their role in regional economic growth. Keywords: Kumbh Mela, Local Communities, Spiritual Tourism, Economic Impact

Cultural kaleidoscope: challenges and opportunities for the local integration of refugees in Uganda

This article explores the cultural complexities of the Rwamwanja refugee settlement in Uganda and examines the challenges and opportunities associated with local integration. Qualitative research was conducted to understand the multifaceted process of cultural integration. The findings revealed a range of cultural challenges faced by refugees, such as language barriers, discrimination, and a lack of meaningful access to resources leading to mistrust. Additionally, the study found that refugees have the potential to positively contribute to the host community through sharing their cultural beliefs, and joint activities. The research identifies potential interventions and policies to support successful cultural integration and reconciliation between refugees and the host community.

Hosting a football club as a source of social trust and civic pride

ABSTRACT This research conducted an analysis to ascertain the role that a professional sports club plays in the development of social capital and civic pride within its host community. We analysed the determinants of social trust and civic pride by means of an ordered Probit model and a standard binary Probit model based on the information provided in a survey. Our results suggest the existence of a link between club identification and civic pride, but there is no relationship with social trust (the proxy of social capital). The proposed models offer a clearer understanding of the intangible and indirect impacts on a community associated with hosting a professional football club. They emphasize certain social and community impacts that exhibit characteristics of non-pecuniary public goods.

A sport-for-protection program reduces anxiety and depression in youth affected by displacement: A randomized controlled trial of the Game Connect program in Uganda.

A sport-for-protection program reduces anxiety and depression in youth affected by displacement: A randomized controlled trial of the Game Connect program in Uganda.

Lebanese and Syrian refugee parents’ experiences of accessing mental health care for their children in Lebanon: Findings from a qualitative study

Globally, more than 250 million children and adolescents experience mental health (MH) disorders. The estimated 43 million children forcibly displaced at the end of 2022, most commonly displaced to neighbouring low-and-middle-income countries where health and social protection systems are under-resourced, are at especially high risk of developing MH problems. In such settings, host community and refugee parents must often navigate complex pathways to attain the care their children need. Lebanon has experienced multiple crises and now hosts over 1 million refugees from Syria. We explore Lebanese and Syrian refugee parents’ experiences of seeking MH care for their children in Lebanon. This study is part of a larger study qualitatively assessing how Syrian refugee and host populations pay for and access MH services. As part of this study, we conducted a narrative enquiry comprising 10 interviews with purposively selected Lebanese and Syrian parents of children with mental health problems, living in the Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon area. Data were analysed collaboratively and inductively. Parents reported that the decision to seek MH services for their children commonly followed an acute event, encouragement by family members, or advice from health and child protection organisations. Many described how, even though stigma associated with MH is decreasing in Lebanon, it persists among some communities and creates significant barriers to accessing care, with parents often concealing their care seeking activities. Parents followed a range of pathways to access care, often encountering financial and accessibility barriers. The economic and COVID-19 crises in Lebanon have exacerbated their problems, affecting Lebanese and Syrian families alike. However, Syrian parents needed more support for their children’s basic and educational needs, vital aspects of maintaining their MH and wellbeing. All parents stressed how important it was for MH services to provide comprehensive family support, preserving parents’ dignity, and building trust with both parents and children. They also recommended integrating life skills, recreational activities, and assistance with basic needs into MH services and preferred counselling and psychotherapy over medication. We conclude that Lebanese and Syrian parents in Lebanon face multiple challenges obtaining care for children with MH concerns, a situation exacerbated by the many crises facing Lebanon. Lebanon’s health financing system needs urgent reform to improve MH services to host-community and refugee populations, while governmental and humanitarian stakeholders must seek to deliver cross-sectoral holistic services to children and their families, avoiding the siloed approach that focuses only on children’s MH in isolation from family and social environments.

Divesting Nigeria’s Niger Delta Oil Blocks: Challenges, Solutions, and Strategic Implications

For decades, the people of the Niger Delta have lived in extreme poverty as a result of the loss of their livelihoods caused by pollution from petroleum exploration activities, while International Oil Companies (IOCs) have built super-rich empires on the revenues of crude oil extracted from the region, leaving behind a devastated environment, social crises, and death. IOCs are now divesting for a number of reasons, including instability, oil theft, and ongoing resentment from host communities, all of which contribute to the high costs and risks involved with sustained operations. Given the region’s current high level of environmental awareness, it is more likely that people will hold IOCs responsible for oil spill cleanup, remediation, and compensation. This paper reveals the issues associated with the IOCs’ ongoing divestment of significant oil blocks in the Niger Delta, as well as available solutions that can bring about peace and stability in the region. It is recommended that the only way out of the current environmental calamity in the Niger Delta is by environmental restoration and that before divesting the assets they own, IOCs should demonstrate goodwill by dealing with their environmental legacies in the region. The government, for its part, should address Niger Delta stakeholders’ concerns regarding a provision or clause in the PIA that bans host communities from collecting their 3% benefit from oil corporations in the case of crude oil theft in their jurisdiction, since this will assist to rebuild public trust. In addition, before approving the current divestment process, the government should force IOCs to address damages to the environment in the Niger Delta.

Between Placelessness and Place-Giving: Migration as a Social Space of Gap and the Threshold Politics of Identity

This study examines the phenomenon of migration and refugeedom within the context of Turkey, not solely through the lens of migrants' integration processes, but also by critically focusing on how the host society actively constructs and conditions these processes. In the current literature, migration is often conceptualized through one-dimensional frameworks that position the migrant as a passive subject expected to adapt. However, contemporary migration dynamics entail not merely individual adaptation, but multilayered processes of cultural, political, and symbolic negotiation and mutual transformation. In this regard, the study introduces the concept of the "Societal Void Zone" (SVZ) to describe the uncertain, negotiated, and often resistant space that emerges between migrants and host communities. The theoretical framework of the study is grounded in social identity theory, acculturation models, and the concept of liminality. The newly developed notions of displacement and place-giving are employed to conceptualize the two poles of this relational field. Displacement denotes the migrant's struggle to reconstruct spatial and identity-based belonging; place-giving refers to the host society's conditional and regulated forms of inclusion. The threshold space that arises between these poles embodies neither full exclusion nor full acceptance, and constitutes a critical terrain for rethinking migration sociology. The study is based on a mixed-method survey conducted with both migrant individuals and host community members. Data were collected using quantitative (Likert scale) and qualitative (open-ended) instruments and analyzed through the lenses of social exclusion, identity tension, and symbolic boundary production. Findings indicate that integration is not merely a matter of individual effort or institutional policy, but a complex and symbolic process of negotiation, recognition, and spatialized belonging. Taking the case of Turkey as a focal point, this article aims to offer a new conceptual vocabulary for migration studies, challenge linear discourses of integration, and reconceptualize migration as a site of encounter, friction, and transformation rather than as mere movement from one place to another.

The Dual Impact of Immigration and Refugee Movements on Food Security: Challenges, Contributions, and Sustainable Strategies

The Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration can significantly impact human mobility. Food security is a priority for migrants in transit, and humanitarian aid recognizes food access as lacking in displacement situations. Migrants face difficulties during mobility periods, increasing their health risks. Food security affects health and well-being and is essential to the human right to adequate living standards. Climate change and food system neo-liberalization have increased food insecurity and hunger, creating more nutritionally vulnerable displaced people. Refugee inflows affect food security and resilience of host communities in developing countries. Allowing refugees formal work leads to self-reliance, improved living standards, better labor outcomes for natives, higher tax revenues, and economic productivity. Global refugee numbers have increased, with Sub-Saharan Africa hosting one-third. Strategies for food security include increasing production, reducing waste, addressing changing diets, and improving consumer behavior through education and healthier processed foods. Balancing growing food demand with limited production capacity is crucial for food security. Keyword: Food security, Refugee migration, Sustainable Strategies.

From Iceland to the Canary Islands: Understanding the Appeal of Mass Tourism in the Age of Over-Tourism

The Canary Islands have long been a major European destination for mass tourism, often associated with ‘sun-and-beach’ vacations. Critiques of mass tourism have intensified in recent years, as reflected in the 2024 protests in the Canary Islands, which linked mass tourism to economic inequalities and concerns about sustainability. Through the case example of Icelandic tourism to the Canary Islands, this research asks two questions: (a) why mass tourism destinations are appealing, and (b) how these reasons can be more fully understood within a broader geopolitical and structural context. The research methods include a survey conducted in Iceland in 2022 and an analysis of media coverage in Iceland related to the Canary Islands from 2017 to 2022. Survey data indicate that the islands are primarily perceived as an easily accessible, well-established holiday destination. Simultaneously, an analysis of media discussions reveals a limited discourse on the islands in Icelandic media, mainly focusing on tourism. The results illustrate how specific destinations become desirable by prioritizing infrastructure associated with mass tourism, where tourism’s impact on host communities, economies, and environments tends to be invisible.

Schema Therapy for Forced Migrants: Adapting Therapeutic Models for Processing Traumatic Experiences and Loss

This article presents an analytical review and systematization of schema therapy methods adapted for forced migrants who have experienced traumatic events. The relevance of this topic is confirmed by the increasing prevalence of forced migration, which is often accompanied by the loss of familiar environments and the disruption of social connections. The novelty of this research lies in the development of a comprehensive model that integrates rescripting past experiences, imagery-based techniques, and the formation of healthy coping strategies for emotional difficulties. The study examines theoretical and clinical foundations, including the influence of cultural factors, interactions with linguistic environments, and the specifics of socio-psychological conditions within host communities. Special attention is given to mechanisms that enhance emotional balance and restore personal resources in individuals who have lost their homes and stable surroundings. The study aims to describe and analyze therapeutic techniques that reduce anxiety and facilitate the effective restoration of social interactions. To achieve this, source analysis, comparative methods, and the interpretation of clinical observations were employed. The conclusion discusses the potential for integrating the developed model into rehabilitation and social support programs. This article will be of value to psychologists, social workers, and specialists in migration processes.

The Sudanese Civil War: Implications for Chadian National Security

The outbreak of the Sudanese Civil War on April 15, 2023, has dramatically transformed the regional security environment in Central Africa, with far-reaching consequences for Chad’s national security. This article analyzes these multidimensional pressures on Chad in the context of the war, focusing on humanitarian, military, social, economic, and geopolitical dimensions. The article examines the roots and actions of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as well as the wider theoretical abstraction of the Sudan Conflict through a conceptual lens of complexity in regional security dynamics and conflict analysis, with pointed repercussions for Chad’s solubility to that conflict. The RSF’s evolution from Janjaweed militias to its current strength as a formidable paramilitary force illustrates some of the structural and systemic weaknesses in Sudan that have led to the current conflict. The article studies the Sudanese Civil War as a struggle for political power, competing resources, ethnic tensions, and external involvement, and emphasizes especially how they contribute to a destabilization of neighboring states, like Chad. The analysis highlights Chad’s five pillars of national security—military capabilities, border integrity, social cohesion, economic strength, and foreign engagement—assessing both their strengths and weaknesses within the context of the current crisis and how they intersect. The stakes of the conflict to Chad are dire: the inflow of refugees has strained humanitarian infrastructure and stretched thin host communities, while border insecurity has grown in the wake of militant incursion and cross-border attacks. A rising crescendo of ethnic tensions related to competition for resources pose a threat to social cohesion, while economic disruptions include the pausing of trade routes or reallocation of government funds. Geopolitically, Chad's stabilization efforts must not only balance their role as an effective stabilizing actor, but also to navigate a complex landscape of broken regional alliances and ruptures. The recommendations outlined in the article for Chad include enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening humanitarian and security responses, economic diversification, and trying to develop diplomatic initiatives to manage the crisis. Primarily, the solutions promote cooperation to mitigate risks and promote a long-term agenda to protect Chadian stability for the benefit of peace and security across Central Africa.

Crafting agency in a host community: Accessing and participating in the English higher education sector by Ukrainian refugees

AbstractFollowing Russia's launch of a full‐scale war against Ukraine in 2022, scholarship has not yet addressed how Ukrainian refugees in England have been navigating the challenges of developing their agency in pursuing opportunities to participate in the higher education (HE) sector. To address this gap, this paper thematically analyses 11 oral history interviews with Ukrainian refugees. The findings demonstrate that accessing and participating in the HE sector in a host community is a significantly complicated process not just for the (prospective) student population of Ukrainian refugees, as other studies about refugees highlight, but for academics too, despite special support measures. Unlike previous studies that emphasise the passive position of refugees, stripped of their agency, our findings highlight the active nature of Ukrainian refugees' limited agency. Pursuing participation in the HE sector becomes an active agency‐seeking process, prompting refugees to craft ways to pull all available resources and connections far beyond the HE sector in the effort to overcome the constraints of their marginalised position with regard to access and effective participation in the HE sector. These findings are significant not only for addressing existing gaps in the literature on refugee agency and refugees in HE in general, as well as Ukrainian refugees in particular, but also for informing policymaking at the national and institutional levels in England and beyond. These findings highlight the effectiveness of current support measures for Ukrainian refugees in England and point to specific challenges related to the HE environment which require further policy interventions: recognition of prior qualifications, building social networks, utilising technology, enhanced English language support and financial assistance.

Mistletoe-bearing trees positively influence bird foraging patterns across urban and natural environments

Worldwide, parasitic mistletoe species have become successful inhabitants of urban forests, despite novel host trees and communities of potential avian dispersers compared to natural habitats. Though land managers often remove mistletoe because of its impact on urban trees, these hemiparasites may nonetheless provide important food resources and structural heterogeneity for local avifauna. This study compares bigleaf mistletoe’s (Phoradendron leucarpum spp. macrophyllum) host distribution and relationships with birds in the urban and natural landscapes of California’s Central Valley. We established vegetation plots in urban parks and riparian forests to survey mistletoe distributions and measured avian visitation and behavior within individual trees. Mistletoe was detected in 10 of 32 surveyed tree species. Mistletoe presence did not vary across land-uses or tree origins (i.e., native vs. non-native trees); however, infestation levels were highest on larger and nonnative trees. Bird species richness and abundance were higher in trees with mistletoe, a pattern driven by insectivorous gleaning species. Birds were more likely to be observed foraging in trees with mistletoe in natural areas but not urban areas. Finally, birds observed foraging or gleaning were more likely to use mistletoe compared to birds observed perching. Our study reinforces ideas surrounding mistletoe’s host adaptability and importance for native birds. While prior work has focused on the importance of its berries and nectar, we found that mistletoe may also be important for invertebrate-gleaning birds. Looking forward, land managers should look to balance the biodiversity benefits of native mistletoe against potential effects on tree health.