New paradigms for refugee health problems

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 515 - 523
• Main Author: Muecke, Marjorie A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1992; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Series: Social Science & Medicine
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adaptation, Psychological; Alternative Approaches; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Developing Countries; essentialism; essentialism resiliance women post-traumatic stress disorder; Female; Health; Health Problems; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; post-traumatic stress disorder; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Refugees; Refugees - psychology; resiliance; Sick Role; Social research; Specific populations (family, woman, child, elderly...); Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; women; post-traumatic stress disorder; essentialism; resiliance; women; Human; Need; Refugee camp; Refugee; Review; Planning; Social aspect; Morbidity; Public health
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(92)90344-P

Two paradigms that have shaped our understanding of refugee health are indentified: the objectification of refugees as a political class of excess people, and the reduction of refugee health to disease or pathology. Alternative paradigms are recommended: one to take the polyvocality of refugees into account, and one to construe refugees as prototypes of resilience despite major losses and stressors. The article is organized into three sections, mirroring the life history of refugees from internal displacement in the country of origin to asylum in a second (usually neighboring) country, and for some, to permanent resettlement in a third country. In each of the three sections, the primary topics that are treated in the literature are identified, and key problems identified for discussion.