FOR 2928:  Refugee migration to Germany: a magnifying glass for broader public health challenges (PH-LENS)

• Subject Area: Social and Behavioural Sciences ; Medicine
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 409654512

Forced migration, and subsequently refugee health, is currently treated as a singularity. We postulate that this constitutes a socially as well as scientifically impoverished approach in two respects. Firstly, a singularity perspective may ultimately have adverse effects on refugee health because of the resulting further social marginalization, or ‘othering’, of forced migrants. Secondly, treating refugee health as a singularity constitutes a missed opportunity for improving population health in general as it fails to realize an inherent analytical potential: In view of the diversity in Germany’s society today, refugee health can be interpreted as an exacerbation and accumulation of factors that affect also other population subgroups, and ultimately – to varying degrees – all members of society in Germany. In this Research Unit, we will analyse two such factors, (i) contextual (small-area) effects on health; and (ii) challenges to the health system (which we conceptualize as its resilience), as well as their interactions, from a truly interdisciplinary perspective. The process of ‘othering’ will serve as the conceptual link between these factors. We aim to identify health inequalities related to these factors, determine the underlying pathways including societal exclusion processes, and formulate concepts and strategies for reducing them. By rejecting the singularity perspective, our results, both in terms of methodology and of scientific content, will be applicable more broadly to public health in Germany’s increasingly diverse society. This innovative concept clearly stands out from the work of many on-going refugee health projects.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• Analysis of contextual and health service factors in pregnancy and obstetric care for refugees (PROREF) (Applicants Borde, Theda ;  David, Matthias )
• Conceptualisation and empirical studies of Othering in public health and health care (OTHER) (Applicants Razum, Oliver ;  Zick, Andreas )
• Coordination Funds (Applicant Razum, Oliver )
• Ensuring valid comparisons of self-reports in heterogeneous populations and marginalised groups (ENSURE) (Applicant Menold, Natalja )
• Identifying, conceptualising, and modelling micro-area factors with effects on the health of vulnerable populations (DEPRIV) (Applicants Razum, Oliver ;  Sauzet, Odile )
• Longitudinal aspects of the interaction between health and integration of refugees in Germany (LARGE) (Applicant Schupp, Jürgen )
• Mental health treatment for refugees in Germany: need and barriers (TREAT) (Applicant Neuner, Frank )
• Natural experiment on contextual effects on health and health care among refugees (NEXUS) (Applicant Bozorgmehr, Kayvan )
• Vulnerability and empowerment: Participatory approaches to health promotion with refugees (EMPOW) (Applicant von Unger, Hella )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Oliver Razum