International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 12, Issue 10, 2015, Pages 12643-12661

Return migration among elderly, chronically ill bosnian refugees: Does health matter? (Article) (Open Access)

Handlos L.N.* , Olwig K.F. , Bygbjerg I.C. , Kristiansen M. , Norredam M.L.
  • a Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, K 1014, Denmark
  • b Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, K 1353, Denmark
  • c Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, K 1014, Denmark
  • d Center for Healthy Aging, Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, K 1014, Denmark
  • e Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, K 1014, Denmark, Section of Immigrant Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, 2650, Denmark

Abstract

Elderly migrants constitute a considerable share of global return migration; nevertheless, literature on the health aspects of the return migration among these migrants is still scarce. This study explores the significance of return migration among elderly, chronically ill Bosnian refugees from Denmark and the role of health issues in their decision to return. It is based on semi-structured interviews with 33 elderly, chronically ill Bosnian refugees who have moved back to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 10 elderly, chronically ill Bosnian refugees who have remained in Denmark. The interviews show that physical health, in the sense of the absence of illness and easy access to necessary health-care services and medicines, was not highly prioritized when the decision was made whether or not to return. However, if health is regarded more broadly as involving more than mere physical health and the absence of illness, health did matter. Viewed as physical, social and mental well-being in line with WHO’s definition of health, health was indeed one of the most important factors when the decision to return was made. © 2015, by the authors, licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Elderly return migration Bosnia and Herzegovina Chronic illness Well-being

Index Keywords

return migration refugee mental health human Refugees Denmark Bosnian (citizen) health status Bosnia and Herzegovina chronic patient Aged chronic disease psychosocial care quality of life psychological well being Humans psychology medicine male semi structured interview female elderly population clinical article health services Article health care adult migration health care access Emigration and Immigration Transients and Migrants decision making Health Services Accessibility elderly care health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84944077397&doi=10.3390%2fijerph121012643&partnerID=40&md5=481ab5aa18f2d06e152466c64fc4d78c
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph121012643
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English