Examining Structural and Social Supports Offered to Resettled Refugees in 10 Host Countries – A Scoping Review Acknowledging Health in All Policies
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review Acknowledging health in all policies, this scoping review aims to describe and compare i) structural and
social supports offered by countries participating in the United Nations refugee agency resettlement program and ii) refugees’
and service providers’ experiences with these supports.
Recent Findings Structural supports in the 10 countries resettling the largest number of refugees in 2021 (United States [US],
Canada, and 8 European nations) were summarized, using official national documentation. A scoping review of published literature
(1995–2022) sourced from four databases was conducted to capture met and unmet needs of refugees and service providers related to
these supports during the first year of resettlement. Study characteristics were enumerated, and needs were descriptively summarized.
We found important differences in structural supports offered to resettled refugees by host countries and regions, particularly
with access to healthcare, language training, employment and financial support. The 63 included studies originated from the
US (34), Canada, (25) and the United Kingdom (UK) (4), with uneven sub-national distributions. Most studies focusing on
healthcare reported unmet needs, with language barriers, lack of culturally sensitive care and logistical challenges described
in all three countries. Insufficient language training and unmet economic needs were also often reported.
Summary More research on resettled refugees' and service providers’ experiences with structural supports is needed, particularly
in Europe and underrepresented regions in the US and Canada. A “Health in All Policies” approach to policies and programs
related to resettlement should address unmet needs in healthcare, language training, employment and financial support.
Purpose of Review Acknowledging health in all policies, this scoping review aims to describe and compare i) structural and
social supports offered by countries participating in the United Nations refugee agency resettlement program and ii) refugees’
and service providers’ experiences with these supports.
Recent Findings Structural supports in the 10 countries resettling the largest number of refugees in 2021 (United States [US],
Canada, and 8 European nations) were summarized, using official national documentation. A scoping review of published literature
(1995–2022) sourced from four databases was conducted to capture met and unmet needs of refugees and service providers related to
these supports during the first year of resettlement. Study characteristics were enumerated, and needs were descriptively summarized.
We found important differences in structural supports offered to resettled refugees by host countries and regions, particularly
with access to healthcare, language training, employment and financial support. The 63 included studies originated from the
US (34), Canada, (25) and the United Kingdom (UK) (4), with uneven sub-national distributions. Most studies focusing on
healthcare reported unmet needs, with language barriers, lack of culturally sensitive care and logistical challenges described
in all three countries. Insufficient language training and unmet economic needs were also often reported.
Summary More research on resettled refugees' and service providers’ experiences with structural supports is needed, particularly
in Europe and underrepresented regions in the US and Canada. A “Health in All Policies” approach to policies and programs
related to resettlement should address unmet needs in healthcare, language training, employment and financial support.
Date Issued
2025-02-24
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Wenger, Lea S. | |
Saifee, Jessica Farangaiz | |
Macikunas, Andrea | |
Shetty, Janavi | |
Fredricks, Karla | |
Wiemker, Veronika | |
Russell, Eric A. | |
Vik, Eline Skirnisdottir | |
Cunningham, Jessie | |
Guttmann, Astrid | |
Wanigaratne, Susitha |
Additional Credits
Journal
Current Tropical Medicine Reports
Publisher
Springer
ISSN
2196-3045
Access(Rights)
open.access