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Cited by 82Migration, Health and TraumaMental Health Treatment and AccessMigration, Racism, and Human Rights

Comparative study of mental health and quality of life in long term refugees and host populations in Oru-Ijebu, Southwest Nigeria

Open access
Akinyemi, Oluwaseun O, Owoaje, Eme T, Ige, Olusimbo K, Popoola, Oluwafemi A·2012·BMC Research Notes
DOI 10.1186/1756-0500-5-394PMC PMC3461488
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Refugees as "People Living in Highly Stressful Situation" are particularly vulnerable to mental ill-health as a result of the trauma experienced pre- and post-migration. The lack of information on the mental health disparities of refugees and non-refugees in West Africa is what this study aimed to bridge. A cross-sectional study design was employed using a cluster sampling technique. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaires consisting of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Community Quality of Life (CQoL) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of mental health status and QoL. RESULTS: Respondents consisted of 444(45.7%) refugees and 527(54.3%) non-refugees. Two-thirds 292 (66%) of the refugees were Liberians. Mean age: refugees--34.8 ± 12.8 years versus non-refugees--33.3 ± 8.1 years (p < 0.05). While the majority 376(84.7%) of the refugees were married, most 468(88.8%) of the native population were not (p < 0.001). Significantly higher proportion of refugees had polygamous marriages, lived in poorer type of accommodation and had no formal education compared to the non-refugees (p < 0.05). The overall QoL and CQoL scores were both significantly lower for the refugees (p < 0.001). Refugees were three times more likely than non-refugees to have poor mental health [OR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.83-6.40]. Overall, being currently ill tripled the odds of mental ill health [OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.98-3.77]. Unskilled workers [OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.68-4.60], skilled workers [OR: 2.98; 95% CI: 2.03-4.38] and the unemployed [OR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.29-2.92] had two or more times the odds of poor mental health compared to professionals. CONCLUSIONS: QoL and occupational status were the major threats to the mental health of the refugees. Results of this study point to the need for continued attention to not only the healthcare needs but the welfare, housing, employment and overall QoL to support the long-term mental health of refugees and non-refugee populations alike.

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  • Researchers have advocated for a need to move away from mental health symptom reduction emphasis and pathologizing, and instead focus on improving quality of life, well-being, and functionality.

    “Researchers have advocated for a need to move away from MH symptom reduction emphasis and pathologizing, and instead focus on improving QoL, well-being, and functionality [34, 35].”

    From Examining cognitive behavioral therapy interventions for unaccompanied minors: a systematic review and qualitative research synthesis. (2025) · cites this paper as [34]

    The Discussion (page not specified) advocates attention to welfare, housing, employment, and overall quality of life alongside healthcare to support long-term mental health. It does not advocate moving away from symptom reduction or pathologizing; its recommendation is to broaden attention, not replace one focus with another. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Quality of life along with occupational status were the largest threats to the mental health of refugees.

    “According to Akinyemi et al. [34], QoL along with occupational status, were the largest threats to the MH of refugees.”

    From Examining cognitive behavioral therapy interventions for unaccompanied minors: a systematic review and qualitative research synthesis. (2025) · cites this paper as [34]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Shackman G Liu Y 2005 Wang X, Brief review of world quality of life

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Authors
Akinyemi, O. O., Owoaje, E. T., Ige, O. K., & Popoola, O. A.
Affiliations
  • University College Hospital, Ibadan (NG)
  • University of Ibadan (NG)
Corresponding author
Akinyemi, Oluwaseun O
ORCID
Venue
BMC Research Notes
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2012-07-31
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
394-394
ISSN
1756-0500 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1756-0500-5-394
PMC
PMC3461488
OpenAlex
W2109091440
Cited by
82
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 2
FWCI
6.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Research Notes (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Greater South Information System
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Health › Migration, Racism, and Human Rights
Keywords
refugees, mental health, quality of life, community quality of life, host population, polygamous marriage, unemployment, occupational status, chronic disease, West Africa, mental health disparities, housing conditions, educational attainment, marital status, gender differences in mental health
MeSH terms
Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Female, Housing, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Nigeria, Occupations, Predictive Value of Tests, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Refugees, Risk Factors, Stress, Psychological, Unemployment, Cluster Analysis, Chi-Square Distribution, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio, Marital Status, Risk Assessment, Health Status Disparities, Young Adult

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