Therapeutic itineraries of Congolese refugees in the city of São Paulo.

São Paulo, the most populous Brazilian city, has been the main destination for refugees and it is home to the majority of Congolese, who are the second largest nationality to request refuge in Brazil. In the context of these migrations, previous experiences in displacement and in places of welcome can trigger illness and suffering. The purpose of this article was to analyse the therapeutic itineraries of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo who reside in the city of São Paulo. The research followed an ethnographic approach and included focus group, ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews with 15 Congolese men in refuge in São Paulo between 2015 and 2016. The difficulties faced in the dignified reconstruction of lives include housing, precarious work and racism. Different systems are actuated in healthcare, treatment in health centres and hospitals regarding acute and chronic physical problems, in addition to self-care, identified in the preparation of teas for gastrointestinal ailments. When confronted by suffering, religious social networks, and those of friends and family are activated, in addition to alcohol consumption. The family is sought when facing financial and, principally, emotional problems. The itineraries include multiple therapeutic systems and a dialectic relationship with free, universal services perceived as inequitable.

A saúde mental dos refugiados: um olhar sobre estudos qualitativos / La salud mental de los refugiados: una mirada sobre los estudios cualitativos / Literature review on qualitative studies regarding the mental health of refugees

As experiências que levam pessoas a solicitarem refúgio envolvem fatores com potencial de desencadear desordens mentais. O objetivo desta revisão de literatura é apresentar o estado da arte sobre a saúde mental dos refugiados. O levantamento dos artigos foi realizado na coleção Social Science Citation Index® na Web of Science™. Foram identificados 35 estudos qualitativos em periódicos internacionais de 1993 a janeiro de 2016. A análise focou na saúde mental de refugiados adultos, na saúde mental de refugiados na infância e adolescência, e nos cuidados em saúde de refugiados. Houve um aumento desta produção nos últimos anos, e os estudos evidenciaram temas como: a diversidade cultural, a importância da família e das redes de apoio, a atuação dos profissionais envolvidos com estes grupos, a presença ou não de doença mental, as intervenções e o comprometimento com os direitos humanos.(AU)

Las experiencias que llevan a las personas a solicitar refugio envuelven factores con potencial de desencadenamiento de disturbios mentales. El objetivo de esta revisión de literatura es presentar lo que hay de más moderno sobre la salud mental de los refugiados. El levantamiento de los artículos fue realizado en la colección Social Science Citation Index® en la Web of Science™. Se identificaron 35 estudios cualitativos en periódicos internacionales desde 1993 a enero de 2016. El análisis se enfocó en la salud mental de refugiados adultos, la salud mental de refugiados en la infancia y adolescencia y en los cuidados de salud de refugiados. Hubo un aumento de esta producción en los últimos años y los estudios colocaron en evidencia temas tales como la diversidad cultural, la importancia de la familia y de las redes de apoyo, la actuación de los profesionales envueltos con esos grupos, la presencia o no de enfermedad mental, las intervenciones y el compromiso con los derechos humanos.(AU)

The experience of seeking refugee status may lead to mental disorders for some people. This literature review and analysis is about the mental health of refugees. Peer reviewed papers were researched on the online database, Social Science Citation Index® on Web of Science™. We found 35 qualitative studies published from January 1993 to January 2016. Analysis focused on the mental health of adult refugees, the mental health of child and adolescent refugees and health care of refugees. There has been an increase in publications in this area. The themes include: cultural diversity, the effects of family and network support, the practitioners' work caring for refugees, the presence or not of mental illness, and interventions and commitment regarding human rights.(AU)