What's Keeping Some from Seeking Asylum? A Field Report Exploring Determinants and Implications for Fostering a Social Contract for Young People in Afghanistan

Abstract

We examined characteristics of Afghan youth who intend to stay in Afghanistan, a generation of young people critical to rebuilding the country. A survey of 232 young adults residing in Kabul assessed various demographic, health and psychological factors. The majority of participants reported that they had no intent to seek asylum, and our analyses showed that these individuals were financially stable, physically healthier, experienced less stress, resilient and more hopeful for their country's sociopolitical future when compared to those intending on seeking asylum. Findings provide justification for renewing a social contract that assures various protections and opportunities for social advancement. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Prevalence and social determinants of tobacco use in Afghanistan

“… 21 Yet the tobacco industry’s lobbying power, known to interfere with tobacco control policies in LMICs , 19 is particularly concerning for Afghanistan, a country vulnerable to corporate tobacco market expansion due to its weak economy, rising corruption, and failing state and political institutions. 22 Another challenge for Afghanistan is that poverty and ongoing political violence have created stressful social conditions, especially for many young Afghans who already possess little hope for social advancement. Consequently, based on faulty beliefs that tobacco consumption is helpful in reducing stress, 23 many may turn to smoking and SLT products as a means of coping with boredom, frustration and depression 24 —factors shown to give rise to fatalistic attitudes and risk-taking behaviours.…”