Table 1 An overview of included studies

G. Barnabas (1982)

To assess the nutritional and childcare among Ethiopian refugees in Eastern Sudan

151

Not clarified

Eastern Sudan

Ethiopia

Structured interviews

Face-to-face

Ethihopian refugees

Descriptive statistical analysis

Malnutrition and infection come as top priorities in health work amongst refugees, while cultural practices are important, too.

Not clarified

[65]

R. Talhouk (2020)

To gain an understanding of the potential for technology integration in primary health care provision

17

Purposive sampling

Lebanon

Syria

Semi-structured interviews

Face-to-face

Key informants and health care

providers

Thematic analysis

Although many barriers are like other countries, lower health and technology literacy is a significant difference in Syrian refugee.

United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Science Research Council award and The Newcastle University Research Investment Fund

[33]

A. Takbiri (2020)

To explore the challenges of providing primary health care to Afghan immigrants in Tehran

25

Purposive sampling

Iran

Afghanistan

Semi-structured interviews

Face-to-face

PHC

providers, including physicians, psychologists, and midwives

Thematic analysis

Communication barriers, lack of insurance coverage and screening system, and the negative attitude against Afghan immigrants are among the most common challenges of providing PHC for them.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

[7]

L. Nikfarid (2020)

To explore the experiences of Afghan mothers living in Iran who had a

child with cancer

9

Purposive sampling

Iran

Afghanistan

Semi-structured and in-depth interviews

Face-to-face

Afghan refugee women with children diagnosed with cancer

Content analysis

Cultural barriers in the way of self-empowerment make Afghan mothers need more assistance in coping with children with cancer. Tailored care plans are suggested.

None

[35]

V. Mutiso (2018)

To explore the perceived mental-health-care access barriers affecting the resettled refugee population in Eastleigh, Kenya

82

Purposive sampling

Kenya

Somali

Focus group discussion and semi-structured interview

Face-to-face

Refugees, primary health workers, religious leaders, and senior Somali refugee

doctors

Content analysis

Cultural and religious beliefs, insufficient health services, culture-insensitive mental health services, poverty, language barriers, stigma, and discrimination are among the most critical barriers accessing mental health care for refugees.

Not clarified

[28]

S. Jannat (2022)

To find out the condition of Rohingya refugee women’s sexual and reproductive health in terms of

contraception, sanitation, and hygiene

50

Purposive sampling

Bangladesh

Rohingya (Myanmar)

Semi-structured interview

Face-to-face

Refugee women

Thematic analysis

Many factors like

gender-based violence and patriarchal society impacts are continuously affecting sexual and reproductive health continuously

Not clarified

[38]

S. Gee (2019)

To understand factors that contribute to

poor health outcomes throughout the reproductive life cycle and across the continuum of care in refugee settings

229

Purposive and convenience sampling

Kenya

Somali

Focus group discussion and in-depth interviews

Face-to-face

Community members, relevant UN and

non-governmental organization staff, community leaders, health managers, and front-line health care providers

Inductive and deductive techniques (thematic analysis)

The intense desire for large families and the primary social role of the woman as child bearer impacted maternal and neonatal health in the camps through preferences for

early marriage, low demand for contraception, and avoidance of caesarean sections.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

[34]

N. Gawde (2016)

To understand access to maternal health care and the factors shaping it amongst poor migrants in Mumbai, India

234

Random sampling

India

All migrants

Structured and in-depth interviews

Face-to-face

Migrant women, health care providers, and health officials

Thematic analysis

Poor maternal healthcare was due to weaker demand for health care, lack of social support and knowledge, inadequate health infrastructure, and lack of specific strategies for improvement of migrants’ access to health care.

Indian Council of

Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi

[27]

N. Azizi (2021)

To identify obstacles and facilitators

of providing primary health care to Afghan refugees from the perspective of health care providers

21

Purposive sampling

Iran

Afghanistan

Semi-structured interviews

Face-to-face

Healthcare providers

Content analysis

Lack of trained personnel, identification records, communication barriers, and insurance are among main challenges, while free-of-charge PHC, availability for migrant, justice, and insurance variety are among opportunities for migrants.

Iran University of Medical Sciences

[29]

P. Torun (2018)

To assess the health needs of urban refugees living in Istanbul

891

Snowball sampling

Turkey

Syria

Questionnaire

Face-to-face

Syrian women from households, doctors, decision makers,

and NGO representatives

Thematic analysis

Cost of living in Istanbul, language barriers, and lack of knowledge about Turkish health system are the main challenges of Syrian refugees.

The Bezmialem Vakif Universit Scientific Research Projects Funding Scheme

[30]

C. Silveira (2017)

To investigate inequalities in living conditions and access to health services among Bolivian immigrants living in the central area of São Paulo, Brazil

183

Random sampling

Brazil

Bolivia

Semi-structured interviews

Face-to-face

Bolivian immigrants

Descriptive statistical analysis

Immigrants are increasingly included in PHC as well as work and access to documentation.

National Council for Scientific and Technological Development

[31]

S. Rajaratnam (2022)

To understand the experiences of Rohingya women in Malaysia, particularly in

accessing public hospitals

33

Purposive sampling

Malaysia

Myanmar

Focus group discussion and in-depth interviews

Face-to-face

Rohingya

women refugees and asylum seekers, medical social workers, medical officers, volunteer

workers/activists, refugee organization officers, and a mental health service provider

Thematic analysis

Barriers for Rohingya women are experience of marriage and domestic violence, access to public hospitals, financial challenges, and inability of medical social workers to provide services for them.

Faculty of Social Sciences and

Humanities, University Kebangsaan Malaysia

[36]

T. M. Powell (2022)

To examine participants experiences of the healthy community clinic (HCC-MH), a mental health awareness intervention delivered to Jordanians and resettled Syrians in a border community in Jordan

21

Maximum variation sampling

Jordan

Syria

Focus group discussion

Face-to-face

Syrian and Jordanian participants

Thematic analysis

Awareness of their own emotional needs, upbeat life style and behavior changes, and normalized emotional distress are among benefits of this intervention for Syrian refugees.

Americares

[66]

L. Maconick (2020)

To examine the interaction between physical and mental health of

patients with NCDs at an MSF clinic in Irbid, Jordan, in the context of social suffering

34

Convenience sampling

Jordan

Syria

Focus group discussion and semi-structured interviews

Skype

Syrian refugee and

Jordanian patients, clinical, managerial, and administrative staff of the MSF clinic

Thematic analysis

A ‘disconnect’ between staff and patients’ perceptions of the potential role of the NCD and mental health service in alleviating this suffering.

Médecins sans Frontières

[37]

L. N. Losco ( 2019, 2021)

Integration of the migrant population from the perspective of the Bolivian population

residing in São Paulo, Brazil and to understand what the role of the community health agents is, to guarantee the principle of universality of the public health services offering access and

79

Snowball sampling

Brazil

Bolivia

Semi-structured interviews

Face-to-face

Health professionals and Bolivian immigrants

Thematic analysis

Understanding cultural differences, the need for state policy, and cooperation between immigrants and heath staff are among the main concerns and solutions for Bolivian migrants in Brazil

Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes)

[32, 67]

S. Maybin (1992)

To compare the health situation and access to health care in refugee camp with surrounding natives

Not clarified

Not clarified

Thailand

Laos

Not clarified

Not clarified

Refugees

Not clarified

Access to primary health care facilities in the Camp was, moreover, easier and free of charge

Save the Children Fund (UK)

[10]