Refugees face multiple vulnerabilities during different stages of their migration and settlement. However, the impact of the vulnerabilities on their health experiences remain diverse; also, there is paucity and limitations in application of theoretical concepts in systematically analysing and understanding the empirical evidence that exits on refugee or migrant health. The aim of this interpretive ethnographic study was, therefore, to explore the health experiences Eritrean refugee families in context of their migration journey and settlement in the UK, and consequently contribute to the efforts aimed at understanding and improving health experiences of refugees. The findings of this study are based on thematic analysis, utilizing NVvivo, of narratives of 18 parents, from 11 Eritrean refugee families, living in a Midlands city of England. The narratives were collected (March 2010 to May 2011) through semi -structured in -depth interviews conducted by the insider researcher. Three broad themes emerged from the analysis: The first theme, flight and settlement: implications of 'illegality' and social exclusion, examines how 'illegal' migration status during the course of migration journey, and social exclusion and associated factors during the asylum process in the UK, influenced the experiences, including health experiences, of the Eritrean refugee families. The second theme, refugee families: health implications and adaptation, shows the ingraining of the participants' narratives in their past and present experiences and optimism about their future lives. The third theme, health definition and experiences with healthcare services in the UK, portrays the participants' perceptions and views about health, illness and health services in the UK. Overall, having analysed the health experiences of understudied refugee group based on relevant theory and literature the study contributes to the wider refugee and refugee family health literature. The study also presents recommendations that would help improve health experiences of refugees. ABSTRACT Refugees experience multiple vulnerabilities during
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:606342 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Haggi, Haggi Michael |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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