ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the following issues: migration and health; the universal legal definitions of refugee and asylum seeker status; and the healthcare needs of refugees and asylums seekers, focusing on mental health, children and young people's health, the effects of torture and women's health. Migration can be defined as the movement of people from one place to another. Migration is often described as being caused by two factors: the 'push' factor or 'pull' factor. Refugees may flee war, political oppression, violence or sexual or physical abuse. A refugee is a person whose asylum application has been successful. The perpetrators of torture may be the military, police, government agencies or even health workers. Refugees and asylum seekers commonly experience mental health problems that often are related to their past experiences. Women may have been placed at risk of HIV/AIDS in countries where sexual crime is perpetrated by the military who may have a higher incidence of HIV.