Refugee and asylum-seeker health seeking in the greater Boston area
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Citation
Abstract
In this research project, I examine the role that three organizations play in the greater Boston area. I sought to understand how these organizations were offering care to this population, and, in a broader sense, what it means to care for asylum-seekers and refugees. To answer this question, I developed a qualitative study that consisted of semi-structured interview and participant observation at three different sites from August 2015 through February 2017. I argue that the agencies where I did my research demonstrated that healthcare does not equal medical care. These agencies offered an integrative approach to overall care for those refugees and asylum-seekers utilizing their services. This care reflected the pre-defined needs and desires of refugees and asylum-seekers while also remaining fluid and adapting to individual cases.