Surveillance and Disaster Planning: Health needs of asylum seekers and refugees

Running Head: Surveillance and Disaster Planning
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Surveillance and Disaster Planning:
Health needs of asylum seekers and refugees
Name
Institution

Surveillance and Disaster Planning
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Mental health
Refugees and asylum seekers regularly encounter traumatic experiences that negatively impact
their mental health (Burnett, & Peel, 2001). These experiences can be subdivided as follows;
Depression and anxiety: Asylum seekers have higher depression rates compared to the broad
population. It is higher among those waiting to be granted asylum and lower in successful
applicants.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a major mental condition affecting refugees and
asylum seekers. It comes as a result of war, violence, death, imprisonment and separation of
families.
Suicide: studies have shown that suicide is high among refugees in relation to the general public.
Communicable diseases
Asylum seekers tend to reflect the presence of communicable diseases from their country of
origin (Burnett, & Peel, 2001). Disease prevalence is common due to lack of medical care
brought about by ongoing war. For example, the vaccination rates in Syria have dropped from
90% in 2010 to 45% in 2013 as a result of the ongoing civil war.
Women’s health
Women are affected most as refugees. They’re more prone to sexual abuse, rape and physical
assault (Burnett, & Peel, 2001).
Contraception: Language barrier is a major factor that prevents women from seeking
contraceptive advice. Study shows that there is a higher abortion rate among asylum seekers