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Exploring the Relationship between Housing and Health for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in South Australia: A Qualitative Study

Author

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  • Anna Ziersch

    (Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia)

  • Moira Walsh

    (Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia)

  • Clemence Due

    (Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia)

  • Emily Duivesteyn

    (Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia)

Abstract

Housing is an important social determinant of health; however, little is known about the impact of housing experiences on health and wellbeing for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds. In this paper, we outline a qualitative component of a study in South Australia examining these links. Specifically, interviews were conducted with 50 refugees and asylum seekers who were purposively sampled according to gender, continent and visa status, from a broader survey. Interviews were analysed thematically. The results indicated that housing was of central importance to health and wellbeing and impacted on health through a range of pathways including affordability, the suitability of housing in relation to physical aspects such as condition and layout, and social aspects such as safety and belonging and issues around security of tenure. Asylum seekers in particular reported that living in housing in poor condition negatively affected their health. Our research reinforces the importance of housing for both the physical and mental health for asylum seekers and refugees living in resettlement countries. Improving housing quality, affordability and tenure security all have the potential to lead to more positive health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Ziersch & Moira Walsh & Clemence Due & Emily Duivesteyn, 2017. "Exploring the Relationship between Housing and Health for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in South Australia: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:9:p:1036-:d:111371
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Foorough Kavian & Kaye Mehta & Eileen Willis & Lillian Mwanri & Paul Ward & Sue Booth, 2020. "Migration, Stress and the Challenges of Accessing Food: An Exploratory Study of the Experience of Recent Afghan Women Refugees in Adelaide, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Laura Bertini-Soldà, 2023. "The Cultural Dimension of Clinical Vulnerability: Repeated Access to Emergency Units and Discontinuity in Health and Social Care Pathway," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Anna Ziersch & Clemence Due & Moira Walsh, 2023. "Housing in Place: Housing, Neighbourhood and Resettlement for People from Refugee and Asylum Seeker Backgrounds in Australia," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1413-1436, September.
    6. Gemma Crawford & Elizabeth Connor & Kahlia McCausland & Karina Reeves & Krysten Blackford, 2022. "Public Health Interventions to Address Housing and Mental Health amongst Migrants from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds Living in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-22, December.

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