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The impact of a long asylum procedure on quality of life, disability and physical health in Iraqi asylum seekers in the Netherlands

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Abstract

Background

Refugees in western countries often face long juridical procedures before their requests for a resident permit is granted. The, still scanty, literature shows high prevalence rates of psychopathology among asylum seekers, but there has been little interest for other impaired dimensions of health. The present study is part of a community-based mental health survey among Iraqi asylum seekers in the Netherlands, conducted between November 2000 and September 2001, on the risks of a long asylum procedure.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to explore quality of life (QoL), disability and physical health and their relationships with psychopathology and pre- and post-migration variables.

Method

Two groups of pre-stratified (length of asylum procedure), randomly selected Iraqi asylum seekers (N = 143 andN = 151), were interviewed with fully structured, culturally validated questionnaires. Quality of life was examined with QoLWHO-Bref, functional disability with the Brief Disability Questionnaire and physical health with a newly developed questionnaire. Psychiatric (DSM IV) disorders were measured with the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the relationships between the outcome measures and socio-demographics, adverse life events in Iraq, post-migration living problems (PMLP) and psychopathology.

Results

Respondents with a long asylum procedure reported significantly lower QoL, higher functional disability and more physical complaints. Multivariate regression shows that length of stay is the strongest predictor for a low overall QoL. In addition, lower QoL was predicted by psychopathology, higher age, adverse life events in the Netherlands and the PMLP-clusters: family issues, socio-economic living conditions and socio-religious aspects. Disability was predicted by psychopathology, higher age and the PMLP clusters: family issues and socio-religious aspects. Physical complaints were predicted by length of asylum procedure, psychopathology, female sex, adverse life events in Iraq and PMLP-family issues.

Conclusion

A long asylum procedure has a negative impact on the overall health situation and the QoL of asylum seekers. The situation is not only harming the affected, but also interferes with the integration process in the Netherlands or elsewhere. The findings are important for health professionals, governments and human right specialists.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by GGZDrenthe and the foundation De Open Ankh. We thank the Iraqi interviewers and the participants of the study for their co-operation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Institute of Community Mental Health Care Drenthe, Beilen, The Netherlands

    Cornelis J. Laban

  2. De Evenaar, Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, GGZ-Drenthe, Postbus 30000, 9410 RA, Beilen, The Netherlands

    Cornelis J. Laban

  3. HealtNetTPO WHO Collaborating Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ivan H. Komproe

  4. Dept. of Psychiatry, Diaconessen Hospital, Meppel, The Netherlands

    Hajo B. P. E. Gernaat

  5. Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Joop T. V. M. de Jong

  6. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Joop T. V. M. de Jong

Authors
  1. Cornelis J. Laban

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  2. Ivan H. Komproe

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  3. Hajo B. P. E. Gernaat

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  4. Joop T. V. M. de Jong

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Corresponding author

Correspondence toCornelis J. Laban.

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Laban, C.J., Komproe, I.H., Gernaat, H.B.P.E.et al. The impact of a long asylum procedure on quality of life, disability and physical health in Iraqi asylum seekers in the Netherlands.Soc Psychiat Epidemiol43, 507–515 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0333-1

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