Community health assets and refugee wellbeing

Qualitative evidence across mental health, disability inclusion, end-of-life care, and women’s health – A global scoping review

Bibliographic Data

ID19590805
AuthorsSileshi Demelash (0000-0002-7273-8923), Sileshi Demelash Sasie (Ethiopian Public Health Institute, corresponding author), Melkamu Asrat Alava (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Lensa Fekadu (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Hailemichael Wasye Misganaw (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Tigist Ali Gebeyehu (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Neima Zeynu Ali (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Sisay Temesgen Dema (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Melkamu Abte Afele (Ethiopian Public Health Institute), Zenebech Mamo Argaw (Wollo University)
EditorsJ L Diab (0000-0003-4158-7728)
Year2026
Volume6
Issue2
Pagese0005459
Publication date2026-02-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0005459
PMID41719359
OpenAlexW7130715491
LanguageEN
References cited110

Refugee populations face heightened and intersecting vulnerabilities across mental health, disability inclusion, women’s health, and end-of-life and palliative care, shaped by displacement, trauma, legal precarity, and systemic marginalization. Although community-centered approaches are increasingly recognized as critical for addressing these challenges, qualitative evidence on how community health assets support refugee wellbeing remains fragmented across domains. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize qualitative evidence on community-based health interventions for refugee populations across four thematic areas: mental health, disability inclusion, women’s health, and end-of-life and palliative care. The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidance. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified qualitative studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were screened using predefined eligibility criteria, with data charted and thematically analyzed using a cross-domain Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research–Proctor hybrid framework to examine implementation barriers, facilitators, and outcomes. Study quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist. The search yielded 2,576 records, of which 1,918 unique records were screened and 126 articles underwent full-text review. Forty-nine studies met inclusion criteria across the four domains. Common barriers included stigma, gender-based violence, legal insecurity, cultural and language discordance, and limited access to specialized services. Effective strategies included peer-led psychosocial support, culturally concordant providers, integrated community-based care models, and safe spaces for women and marginalized groups. Methodological limitations were noted in ethical reporting, researcher reflexivity, and analytic transparency. Across domains, trust, continuity of care, and culturally safe engagement consistently emerged as central to acceptability and feasibility. This review synthesizes cross-domain qualitative evidence and highlights community health assets as critical, scalable platforms for advancing equitable and context-responsive refugee health interventions in both emergency and resettlement settings

Critical appraisal · Inclusion (mineral) · Mental health · Palliative care · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Refugee · Thematic analysis · Homelessness and Social Issues · Migration, Health and Trauma · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues