Kirandeep K. Chhokar1, Kelika A. Konda1, Rana A. Kamperis2
Background: Greece has often been viewed as a gateway to Europe for many fleeing war and conflict, as it shares borders with Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Turkey by land and shares its coast with Italy, Egypt, and Libya. As of March 2nd, 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) reported 6,205 new migrant arrivals, of which 5,753 arrived by sea on the Aegean islands and 452 arrived on land (UNHCR, 2025). As of March 2nd, 2025, there are 9,054 migrants and refugees living in closed controlled-access centers awaiting processing (e.g., migrant camps, government-provided facilities). Of these 9,054 migrants, women and children account for 21% and 37% of the demographic, respectively (UNHCR, 2025). Increased migration has led to overcrowding, creating long-standing implications for health/wellness, healthcare delivery/access, and accessibility of local aid. We aim to identify current gaps in services, systemic barriers, and highlight potential opportunities for future health programming.
Methods: A mixed-methods study framework was used to: (I) report real-time data on refugee/migrant women’s health and well-being; (II) identify unmet needs and gaps in available services for refugee/migrant women; (III) assess the relationship between different variables such as legal status and length of stay in camps with health/well-being, if any; and (IV) gain insights from key stakeholders working locally in Greece with refugees and migrants.
Results: A sample of 27 refugee and migrant women participated in structured quantitative surveys, representing voices from: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Uganda. With 52% being recognized refugees, 22% being asylum seekers, and 26% being migrants both regular (e.g., family reunification) and irregular (e.g., no status, asylum case rejected, all asylum appeals exhausted, etc.). Preliminary findings show the following 5-item World Health Organization (WHO-5) Well-Being Index score trend observed from (highest to lowest): refugees > asylum seekers > migrants. A sample of nine key informants participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, including non-governmental organization (NGO)/grassroots organization personnel (n=4), translators/cultural mediators (n=2), and healthcare professionals (n=3). Informants’ reports echoed women’s experiences in and outside migrant camp settings, highlighting concerns associated with personal safety, access to medical care, and integration.
Conclusions: Recognized refugees report better overall health and well-being compared to asylum seekers and migrants. Asylum seekers and migrants have little to no access to healthcare, public benefits, are unable to apply for work, and run the risk of detainment if caught by police. Lack of social protections, constant fear of detainment, and the inability to afford basic necessities directly affect the physical and mental well-being of these women and their families. Our findings suggest the need for enhanced psychosocial support services, assistance with social integration, and expanded access to public services (e.g., primary care, chronic disease management) for all women on the move, including asylum seekers and migrants.
