International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 15, Issue 9, 2018

Prevalence of sexual violence in migrants, applicants for international protection, and refugees in europe: A critical interpretive synthesis of the evidence (Review) (Open Access)

De Schrijver L. , Vander Beken T. , Krahé B. , Keygnaert I.*
  • a UGent-International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
  • b UGent-Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
  • c Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, 14476, Germany
  • d UGent-International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, 9000, Belgium

Abstract

(1) Background: Sexual violence (SV) is a major public health problem, with negative socio-economic, physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health consequences. Migrants, applicants for international protection, and refugees (MARs) are vulnerable to SV. Since many European countries are seeing high migratory pressure, the development of prevention strategies and care paths focusing on victimised MARs is highly needed. To this end, this study reviews evidence on the prevalence of SV among MAR groups in Europe and the challenges encountered in research on this topic. (2) Methods: A critical interpretive synthesis of 25 peer-reviewed academic studies and 22 relevant grey literature documents was conducted based on a socio-ecological model. (3) Results: Evidence shows that SV is highly frequent in MARs in Europe, yet comparison with other groups is still difficult. Methodologically and ethically sound representative studies comparing between populations are still lacking. Challenges in researching SV in MARs are located at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, societal, and policy levels. (4) Conclusions: Future research should start with a clear definition of the concerned population and acts of SV to generate comparable data. Participatory qualitative research approaches could be applied to better grasp the complexity of interplaying determinants of SV in MARs. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Migrants Europe Asylum seekers Refugees Applicants for international protection Sexual violence Prevalence

Index Keywords

immigrant refugee Europe human Refugees population group statistics and numerical data asylum seeker social status migrant undocumented immigrant Humans Review qualitative analysis sexual exploitation prevalence Incidence human trafficking migration research Sex Offenses public health problem sexual assault crime victim Transients and Migrants sexual violence legal evidence applicant for international protection conflict related sexual violence public policy sexual crime gender based violence public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053352370&doi=10.3390%2fijerph15091979&partnerID=40&md5=8008372ba2bfcc5736c3556060004ccc
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091979
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English