Intergenerational trajectories of inherited vulnerabilities amongst young women refugees in South Africa

Abstract

There is a paucity of scholarship examining the situated vulnerabilities of young women refugees who are either born in (second generation) or young children/adolescents on arrival in their host country (“1.5 generation”) and how these may impact intergenerational vulnerability or resilience. Based on qualitative research carried out in eThekwini (formerly known as Durban), South Africa amongst young women refugees (18–24 years) we highlight the issue of “inherited vulnerability”, examining how vulnerabilities can be transmitted across the refugee generations due to legal, economic and social structures which produce and maintain situations of inequality, rendering young women vulnerable to violence, exploitation and negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Ending the legal limbo in which they live and ensuring access to education and employment opportunities would help break the cycle of intergenerational precarity and support resilience of these young women as they transition to adulthood in South Africa.

“I still don’t know how someone gets pregnant”: determinants of poor reproductive health among young female refugees in South Africa

“…Amongst women of reproductive age, South Africa has the second highest prevalence of unintended pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa [ 31 ]. However, experiences of pregnancy may be fundamentally different between the refugee and non refugee populations given the inherited and intersecting legal, economic and social insecurities they experience [ 4 , 11 ]. The lack of family and State support for many of these young pregnant women, with those with precarious legal status unable to access State child benefit payments for example [ 11 ], contribute to these young refugee women’s specific vulnerabilities when they become pregnant or give birth.…”

“…The challenges they face might be expected to be different to those of their mothers (the first generation) but also from those of young refugee women in camp settings through the influence of acculturation processes as a result of their settlement in urban areas. Finally, due to restrictive refugee laws and policies in destination countries they may find themselves in situations of political, economic and legal precarity, which have a negative impact on their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) [ 11 ].…”

“…In a systematic review [ 14 ], women with asylum seeker and refugee status had poorer pregnancy experiences and outcomes than women in wider migrant populations or in the host country. The differences observed between asylum seekers and refugees, and other types of migrant populations underscores the importance of targeted research focusing on asylum seekers and refugees, for whom legal, political and economic conditions may create particular conditions of health vulnerability and difficulties in accessing health services [ 4 , 11 , 15 ].…”

“…SSA hosts over one fifth (26%) of the world’s refugees and many of these migrants are young people (20–24 years) [ 16 ]. Given the predominantly intra-regional migration flows on the continent, more attention needs to be paid to the intergenerational vulnerabilities these young people may experience, most especially as the migration generations attempt to settle and integrate into a host society [ 11 ]. Our research amongst young refugee women in South Africa who were either children native born of foreign parentage or young children, adolescents (10–19 years) or young adults (20–24 years) on arrival to South Africa suggests they encounter specific legal, economic and social conditions of precarity which impact on their experiences and their SRHR and knowledge.…”

Unsafe and unstable housing for refugees and asylum seekers is a threat to intergenerational health

“…At the same time the concept of intergenerational health is gaining traction in public health, recognising how health is affected by intrafamilial factors and the intersection with medical, socioeconomic, racial, and cultural factors between generations 34. This concept also describes how vulnerability is reproduced intergenerationally through legal, economic, social, and political structures 5. It is well established that children’s early years are critical in developing their future health and wellbeing 6.…”