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Black African asylum seekers’ experiences of health care access in an eastern German state

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  • Scott, Penelope

Abstract

[Purpose:] The purpose of this paper is to examine how access to health care for (rejected) asylum seekers in an eastern German state is structured and experienced and to consider the implications for their human rights. [Design/methodology/approach:] The paper is based on 12 in-depth interviews with rejected black African asylum seekers and also draws on ethnographic research undertaken at a grassroots refugee organisation and asylum homes. The analysis of the interview data are framed by theorisations of “everyday practices” as “tactics” of resistance to an imposed order. [Findings:] Accomplishing health care access involved a range of structural barriers and humiliating interactions with administrative and health care staff, which had adverse consequences for their health status and were injurious to their human rights and dignity. The study participants used a range of oppositional and discursive tactics in an effort to secure certain (health) outcomes, mediate social relations and resist their domination as asylum seekers. [Research limitations/implications:] Further research should focus on the cumulative micro-level effects of asylum policies on health care access and how they create health inequities and violate asylum seekers’ rights and dignity. [Practical implications:] Policy priorities should include the provision of human rights education as well as training and support for administrative and health staff. [Originality/value:] There is limited qualitative research on the health care experiences of asylum seekers in Germany. This paper makes policy recommendations and identifies areas for further research and human rights advocacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott, Penelope, 2014. "Black African asylum seekers’ experiences of health care access in an eastern German state," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 10(3), pages 134-147.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:190839
    DOI: 10.1108/IJMHSC-11-2013-0043
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mclean, Carl & Campbell, Catherine & Cornish, Flora, 2003. "African-Caribbean interactions with mental health services in the UK: experiences and expectations of exclusion as (re)productive of health inequalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 657-669, February.
    2. Steel, Zachary & Momartin, Shakeh & Silove, Derrick & Coello, Marianio & Aroche, Jorge & Tay, Kuo Wei, 2011. "Two year psychosocial and mental health outcomes for refugees subjected to restrictive or supportive immigration policies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(7), pages 1149-1156, April.
    3. Grove, Natalie J. & Zwi, Anthony B., 2006. "Our health and theirs: Forced migration, othering, and public health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(8), pages 1931-1942, April.
    4. Watters, Charles, 2001. "Emerging paradigms in the mental health care of refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(11), pages 1709-1718, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nora Gottlieb & Conny Püschmann & Fabian Stenzinger & Julia Koelber & Laurette Rasch & Martha Koppelow & Razan Al Munjid, 2020. "Health and Healthcare Utilization among Asylum-Seekers from Berlin’s LGBTIQ Shelter: Preliminary Results of a Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Ulrich Trohl & Karoline Wagner & Vivian Kalfa & Sarah Negash & Andreas Wienke & Amand Führer, 2021. "Sick and Tired—Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Asylum Seekers Awaiting an Appointment for Psychotherapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Paul May, 2021. "The Letter and Spirit of the Law: Barriers to Healthcare Access for Asylum Seekers in France," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1383-1401, December.

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