Quality of life among immigrants in Swedish immigration detention centres: a cross-sectional questionnaire study

Abstract

BackgroundDetention of immigrants negatively affects their health and well-being. Quality of life (QOL) is a broad concept incorporating the self-evaluation of one's own health and well-being that can provide an understanding of the health and well-being of immigrant detainees. The aim of this study was to estimate QOL among immigrant detainees in Sweden and to assess its relationship with the services provided in detention centres and with the duration of detention.DesignAll immigrants in all five existing Swedish detention centres (N=193) were invited to participate in the study (n=127). In this cross-sectional study, QOL was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, which was administered by the first author. The questionnaire contained four additional questions measuring participants’ satisfaction with the services provided in detention. Associations between QOL domain scores and service satisfaction scores were assessed using regression analysis. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated to measure the degree of association between the duration of detention and QOL scores.ResultsThe mean QOL domain scores (out of 100) were 47.0, 57.5, 41.9, and 60.5 for the environmental, physical, psychological, and social domains, respectively. The level of support detainees received from detention staff was significantly positively associated with detainees’ physical (βadjusted 3.93, confidence interval [CI] 0.06–7.80) and psychological (βadjusted 5.72, CI 1.77–9.66) domain scores. There was also significant positive association between detainees’ satisfaction with the care they received from detention staff and the domain scores. The general health score in the WHOQOL-BREF was significantly associated with the detainees’ ability to understand the Swedish or English languages. Although not statistically significant, a longer duration of detention was negatively correlated with QOL scores.ConclusionImmigrant detainees report low QOL. Services provided at the centres, especially the support received from detention staff, is positively associated with their QOL. A review of detention guidelines addressing language barriers, staff training, and duration of detention is highly recommended.

Detainees, staff, and health care services in immigration detention centres: a descriptive comparison of detention systems in Sweden and in the Benelux countries

“…On the Swedish side, the representative from the SMA answered the questionnaire via email. The answers provided by the representative confirmed the information available to the authors from the data collected for the previous studies ( 15 – 17 ). Separate visits to the Swedish detention centres were deemed unnecessary at this time since the researchers had visited all the Swedish detention centres multiple times for data collection for their previous studies.…”

“…To facilitate triangulation, data were collected in two stages using multiple investigators and data sources ( 25 , 26 ). Data were collected using a questionnaire developed based on our previous research ( 15 – 17 ) and other international detention monitoring tools ( 1 , 2 , 27 ). The questionnaire included questions concerning staff training arrangements, the categories of staff working with detainees, daily subsistence allowances for detainees, food serving schedules, medical services, interpretation services, and access to recreational and educational activities at the detention centres.…”

“…Once they agreed, the questionnaire was sent to them. The studies from which the data on the Swedish system were obtained ( 15 – 17 ) have ethical approval from the regional ethical review board in Uppsala (Dnr 2011/463), Sweden. These studies required ethical approval as data concerning personal experiences were collected through in-depth interviews with Swedish detention staff and detainees.…”

“…The aim of the study was to explore and describe policies and practices that could affect the health of immigrant detainees in the Benelux countries compared with those in Sweden. Practices and policies that could affect the health of detainees were identified based on the results from the studies conducted in Swedish detention centres ( 15 – 17 ) and the international guidelines ( 3 , 20 , 21 ). The comparison focused on the living conditions of detainees, their access to health care in detention centres, the categories and training of staff working at the detention centres.…”

“…This setting needs to be explored to identify practices that could mitigate negative effects on health. The authors have conducted such explorative studies in the Swedish detention centres ( 15 – 17 ). These studies identified issues, such as language barriers, restrictions within detention centres, limited access to health care, unfavourable staff behaviour, and lack of adequate training and support for detention staff, negatively influencing the health and well-being of detainees.…”