Accompanied and Unaccompanied Adolescent Asylum Seekers in Scotland: Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

Abstract

Adolescent asylum seekers are a vulnerable population who may have faced human rights violations prior to seeking asylum. In addition, there are many challenges when arriving in a new country. These include language barriers, not knowing how to navigate through a health system, lack of health education, and lack of knowledge about current resources. This desk study will use a conceptual framework developed to guide the literature review. This desk study will also look at the literature around what sexual and reproductive health services are available for adolescent asylum seekers in Scotland and what challenges they face when accessing sexual and reproductive health care. This desk study used a systematic approach to the literature review. Databases such as EBSCOHOST, ProQuest, SCOPUS, and Medline were used along with the Journal of Refugee Studies. The results from the literature review shows many challenges that adolescents, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied asylum seekers face. Some challenges include vulnerability to mental health problems, sexual exploitation, lack of health education, and knowledge about local resources. Adolescent asylum seekers also face resource, asylum related, and socio-cultural challenges. This literature review has highlighted many issues that affect adolescent asylum seekers and the need for sexual and reproductive health services. Keywords: Sexual and reproductive health, adolescents, asylum seekers, refugees, Scotland