Exploring Afghan Refugees' Post-Resettlement Experiences in North America: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Psychology

Background:

• Decades of conflict have displaced millions of Afghans, creating a major humanitarian crisis.
• Afghan refugees resettling in North America face substantial psychosocial and systemic integration barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Afghan refugee settlement experiences in North America.
• To synthesize evidence on integration challenges and identify research gaps.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
• Searched six databases for literature published between 2014-2024.
• Included 17 eligible studies on Afghan refugee settlement in North America.

Main Results:

• Mental health is the most studied area, with high rates of psychological distress, depression, and PTSD.
• Risk factors include female gender, older age, trauma, financial issues, and isolation; protective factors include social support, language proficiency, and employment.
• Despite positive healthcare experiences, refugees faced barriers like language, health literacy, transportation, and provider misunderstandings.

Conclusions:

• Afghan refugees encounter multifaceted barriers to health, healthcare access, and integration in North America.
• Current research predominantly focuses on mental health, necessitating broader investigation into other resettlement aspects.