Health-Related Quality of Life Among Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Northern Greece

J Immigr Minor Health. 2022 Apr;24(2):437-444. doi: 10.1007/s10903-021-01199-3. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Abstract

We aimed at assessing the health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) of refugees and asylum seekers in Northern Greece. The SF-36 Health Survey was used to assess participants' HRQoL. Participants were contacted in person. Correlation and dependence tests were employed to examine the association of participants' demographic, residence-related and medical-related characteristics with the two SF-36 component (physical-PCS/mental-MCS) scales. Regressions were conducted to investigate the effect of these characteristics on component scales. Refugees and asylum seekers (n = 161) living in urban apartments and camps in Northern Greece participated in the study reporting poor HRQoL (PCS = 43.9, MCS = 39.5). Age, gender, duration of stay, benefits offered by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), type of accommodation, suffering from a serious health problem and receipt of medication were associated with HRQoL. This study constitutes the first research assessing HRQoL of refugees and asylum seekers in Northern Greece.

Keywords: Asylum seekers; Health-related quality of life; Refugees; SF-36.

MeSH terms

  • Greece
  • Housing
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life*
  • Refugees*