Asylum seekers and refugees in Britain - Health needs of asylum seekers and refugees
Asylum seekers and refugees in Britain - Health needs of asylum seekers and refugees
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DOI：
10.1136/bmj.322.7285.544
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发表时间：
2001-03-03
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Peel, M
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Burnett, A;Peel, M
寻求庇护的人并非同一群体。他们来自不同的国家和文化，在自己和其他国家有过各种各样的经历，这些经历可能会影响他们的健康和营养状况。在英国，他们面临着贫困、依赖和缺乏有凝聚力的社会支持的影响。 1 所有这些因素都会损害身心健康。此外，种族歧视可能导致健康不平等，并影响机会和生活质量。 2难民的经历也影响了他们对英国医疗保健的接受度和期望。 3 来自初级卫生保健系统不发达的国家的人可能需要将在英国接受初级卫生保健治疗的疾病转诊至医院。这可能会导致难民失望，并激怒卫生工作者，他们也可能因寻求庇护者的众多且不同的需求而感到不知所措，其中一些需求是非医疗性的，但仍然会影响健康。即使满足其中一些需求也可能带来相当大的好处。英国此前的研究发现，六分之一的难民存在严重到影响生活的身体健康问题，三分之二的人经历过焦虑或抑郁。 4 5 理清历史、症状（由于各种原因可能被最小化或夸大）和当前的应对机制之间的联系需要耐心，并且通常需要多次治疗。药物治疗应尽可能简单。
People who are seeking asylum are not a homogeneous population. Coming from different countries and cultures, they have had, in their own and other countries, a wide range of experiences that may affect their health and nutritional state. In the United Kingdom they face the effects of poverty, dependence, and lack of cohesive social support. 1 All these factors undermine both physical and mental health. Additionally, racial discrimination can result in inequalities in health and have an impact on opportunities in and quality of life. 2Refugees’ experiences also shape their acceptance and expectations of health care in the United Kingdom. 3 Those from countries with no well developed primary healthcare system may expect hospital referral for conditions that in Britain are treated in primary care. This can lead to disappointment for refugees and irritation for health workers, who may also feel overwhelmed by the many and varying needs of asylum seekers, some of which are non-medical but nevertheless affect health. Addressing even a few of these needs may be of considerable benefit. Previous studies in the United Kingdom have found that one in six refugees has a physical health problem severe enough to affect their life and two thirds have experienced anxiety or depression. 4 5 Disentangling the web of history, symptoms—which may be minimised or exaggerated for a range of reasons—and current coping mechanisms requires patience and often several sessions. Medication should be as simple as possible.