AUTHOR=Morisod Kevin , Martin Tiffany , Rawlinson Cloé , Grazioli Véronique S. , von Plessen Christian , Durand Marie-Anne , Selby Kevin , Le Pogam Marie-Annick , Bühler Nolwenn , Bodenmann Patrick 

TITLE=Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Analysis of Asylum Seekers’ Experiences and Worries in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1606229

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1606229

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> The clinical and social burden of the COVID-19 pandemic were high among asylum seekers (ASs). We aimed to understand better ASs’ experiences of the pandemic and their sources of worries.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Participants (<italic>n</italic> = 203) completed a survey about their worries, sleep disorders, and fear of dying. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with ASs living in a community center (<italic>n</italic> = 15), focusing on how social and living conditions affected their experiences and worries.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> ASs in community centers experienced more sleep disorders related to the COVID-19 pandemic than those living in private apartments (aOR 2.01, <italic>p</italic> = 0.045). Similarly, those with lower education had greater fear for their life due to the COVID-19 pandemic (aOR 2.31, <italic>p</italic> = 0.015). Qualitative findings showed that sharing living spaces was an important source of worries for ASs and that protective measures were perceived to increase social isolation.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our study highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for ASs and the importance of tailoring public health measures to their needs and living conditions.</p>