Impact of Australian Asylum Policies on Refugee Health
Author Information
Author(s): Vanessa Johnston, Pascale Allotey, Kim Mulholland, Milica Markovic
Primary Institution: Menzies School of Health Research and Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University
Hypothesis
Are Australian asylum policies and practice of detention and temporary protection associated with adverse health outcomes?
Conclusion
Government asylum policies and practices violating human rights norms are associated with demonstrable psychological health impacts.
Supporting Evidence
- 46% of TPV refugees reported symptoms consistent with clinical depression compared to 25% of PHV refugees.
- TPV status significantly contributed to psychological distress after controlling for age, gender, and marital status.
- Qualitative data revealed feelings of social isolation and powerlessness among TPV refugees.
Takeaway
Refugees on temporary visas in Australia feel sadder and more stressed than those on permanent visas because of unfair policies that limit their rights.
Methodology
A mixed methods study including a cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews with Iraqi refugees.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from TPV refugees exaggerating their plight to improve their claims for permanent protection.
Limitations
Non-random sampling may introduce bias, and the generalizability of results to other ethnic groups is uncertain.
Participant Demographics
Iraqi refugees, including 71 Temporary Protection Visa holders and 60 Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, with a mean age of approximately 35 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.003
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.3 to 0.71
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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