Page 9 - IJPS-11-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Cultural identity and health risks in forced migration

several studies. Therefore, they facilitate the description of mental well-being, physical welfare, or how culture and
research gaps, new trends, and areas that require further acculturation strategies can help migrants remain robust.
investigation (Gregory & Denniss, 2018).
2.7. Data synthesis
2.1. Literature selection criteria
The narrative synthesis of the selected studies encompassed
The steps that were undertaken to select appropriate and the description of their key findings, including the role
valuable studies for this review and avoid the scrutiny of of cultural trauma in deteriorating health, the need
the literature from irrelevant perspectives or positions are for the provision of culturally competent healthcare,
delineated in subsequent sections. and the effects of acculturation on health status. In addition,
the review identified gaps in the literature about the ways in
2.2. Databases and sources which culturally competent healthcare practices including
Peer-reviewed articles, reports, and studies were searched in advanced; yet, available culturally tailored interventions
the academic databases PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, could benefit migrants worldwide.
and JSTOR. Moreover, the academic literature was enriched
by the inclusion of reports from the United Nations High 3. Results
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World This narrative analysis of the literature identified four
Health Organization. key themes that are discussed in the subsequent sections.
2.3. Keywords Each ascertained premise reveals critical insights into the
intersections of forced migration, cultural identity, and
Some keywords adopted for the literature search included health vulnerabilities. These themes and their subcategories
“forced migration,” “cultural identity,” “vulnerability,” deliver a comprehensive understanding of the challenges
“mental health,” “physical health,” “displaced populations,” that confront migrant populations and the interventions
“acculturation,” “interventions,” “cultural or ethnically that could address such difficulties.
specific attention,” and “refugees health.” Different
combinations of these words were used to search for the 3.1. Forced migration and cultural identity
studies and reports relevant to this review.
3.1.1. Disruption of cultural practices
2.4. Inclusion criteria Cultural practices bind people to their homeland but
Studies written in English, discussing the relationships forced migrations demolish such connections, scattering
between cultural identity, health, and forced migration, communities to unfamiliar lands. Such displacements
and published between 2000 and 2023 were included in can occur due to wars, climate changes, or oppressive
this review. Contained empirical or theoretical exposition circumstances that compel people to move away from the
on the health effects associated with forced dislocation, lands that shaped their ways of life (Martin, 2012; Wodon
including mental and physical health. Discussed aspects et al., 2014). Besides losing their possessions, relocated
such as cultural integration, acculturation, and healthcare individuals lose familiar social values, shared traditions,
barriers among the displaced population. and rituals that bind them as a kindred unit. Cultural
fragmentation impacts the structures of groups bereft of
2.5. Exclusion criteria their moorings to their past, adversely affecting their mental
Studies that did not explore emotions or probe mental well-being, and diminishing their ability to withstand
and physical health issues associated with the culture of changes forced on them in their new environments (Jolof
individuals or cultural isolation were not included in the et al., 2022). The ravages of relocations reverberate far
present investigation. In addition, the present narrative beyond perception: they strip displaced people of tethers
review did not include reviews, commentaries, or studies essential for the preservation of their identities. The sense
without empirical or theoretical rationales. of identity represents the sum of individual self-perception:
It governs how individuals differentiate themselves from
2.6. Study selection others. Cultural identities may be defined as characteristics

First, keywords were used to locate more than 200 studies. that unite people into a community (Zacarés & Iborra,
Then, the stated inclusion and exclusion criteria were 2015) and encompass three essential elements: language,
implemented and 112 primary studies were included for rites of passage, and religion (Reynolds & Erikson,
more thorough examination. Subsequently, the selected 2017; Ohaja & Anyim, 2021; Aça, 2023). Multicultural
studies were further divided into three groups based individuals identify with varied cultures (Wise-Admin,
on their focal health dimension concerning refugees: 2020). Unfortunately, millions of people worldwide

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4468