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Return Migration among Elderly, Chronically Ill Bosnian Refugees: Does Health Matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Line Neerup Handlos

    (Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1014, Denmark)

  • Karen Fog Olwig

    (Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1353, Denmark)

  • Ib Christian Bygbjerg

    (Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1014, Denmark)

  • Maria Kristiansen

    (Center for Healthy Aging, Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1014, Denmark)

  • Marie Louise Norredam

    (Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K 1014, Denmark
    Section of Immigrant Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre 2650, Denmark)

Abstract

Elderly migrants constitute a considerable share of global return migration; nevertheless, literature on the health aspects of the return migration among these migrants is still scarce. This study explores the significance of return migration among elderly, chronically ill Bosnian refugees from Denmark and the role of health issues in their decision to return. It is based on semi-structured interviews with 33 elderly, chronically ill Bosnian refugees who have moved back to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 10 elderly, chronically ill Bosnian refugees who have remained in Denmark. The interviews show that physical health, in the sense of the absence of illness and easy access to necessary health-care services and medicines, was not highly prioritized when the decision was made whether or not to return. However, if health is regarded more broadly as involving more than mere physical health and the absence of illness, health did matter. Viewed as physical, social and mental well-being in line with WHO’s definition of health, health was indeed one of the most important factors when the decision to return was made.

Suggested Citation

  • Line Neerup Handlos & Karen Fog Olwig & Ib Christian Bygbjerg & Maria Kristiansen & Marie Louise Norredam, 2015. "Return Migration among Elderly, Chronically Ill Bosnian Refugees: Does Health Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:10:p:12643-12661:d:56969
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Bank, 2015. "World Development Indicators 2015," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 21634.
    2. Anita A Davies & Rosilyne M Borland & Carolyn Blake & Haley E West, 2011. "The Dynamics of Health and Return Migration," Working Papers id:4331, eSocialSciences.
    3. Cathy Zimmerman & Ligia Kiss & Mazeda Hossain, 2011. "Migration and Health: A Framework for 21st Century Policy-Making," Working Papers id:4174, eSocialSciences.
    4. World Bank, 2014. "World Development Indicators 2014," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 18237.
    5. Cathy Zimmerman & Ligia Kiss & Mazeda Hossain, 2011. "Migration and Health: A Framework for 21st Century Policy-Making," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-7, May.
    6. Anita A Davies & Rosilyne M Borland & Carolyn Blake & Haley E West, 2011. "The Dynamics of Health and Return Migration," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-4, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Line Neerup Handlos & Karen Fog Olwig & Ib Christian Bygbjerg & Marie Norredam, 2016. "Return Migrants’ Experience of Access to Care in Corrupt Healthcare Systems: The Bosnian Example," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Clara Maestre-Miquel & Ana López-de-Andrés & Zichen Ji & Javier de Miguel-Diez & Arturo Brocate & Sara Sanz-Rojo & Antonio López-Farre & David Carabantes-Alarcon & Rodrigo Jiménez-García & José J. Zam, 2021. "Gender Differences in the Prevalence of Mental Health, Psychological Distress and Psychotropic Medication Consumption in Spain: A Nationwide Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.

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