Illegale ved sin blotte eksistens : om papirløse migranters helsestatus og behov for helsetjenester. En systematisk litteraturstudie

Abstract

Background: Undocumented migrants may find themselves to be extraordinary vulnerable to health problems because of political, economic and social marginalization, language barriers and cultural constraints, fear of police and migration authorities, lack of psychological and social support, losses and discrimination. However our knowledge both nationally and internationally is limited. Aim: The purpose is to gather insight in undocumented migrants’ state of health, their need of health care and significant gaps in existing knowledge. Method: A systematic literature review in the databases Cinahl, Medline, PubMed and SveMed. Results: There is a huge protection gap between undocumented migrants’ need of health care and access to health care. Restricted access may also be one major factor to the existing gaps in knowledge. Public health, reproductive health and their living difficulties as undocumented migrants have to some extent been studied so far. Less is known of mental health, chronic illness and state of health to the children as well as to elderly people. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen the efforts to make the ordinary system of health care work to including undocumented migrants, to protect charity – based health – centres, and to increase research and development to contribute to undocumented migrants’ access to adequate health care.