Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41245378›Full record

ReviewJournal of migration and health2025

The bidirectional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social determinants of health among refugees and internally displaced persons in low and lower-middle income countries: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Nisrein Al-Aqqad, Laura-Jane McCarthy, Maria Roura

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of migration and health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Nisrein Al-AqqadSchool of Public Health, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Ireland.
Laura-Jane McCarthySchool of Public Health, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Ireland.
Maria RouraSchool of Medicine, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: This systematic review aims to synthesize the available qualitative evidence on the bidirectional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social determinants of health among refugees and internally displaced persons in low and lower-middle income countries. Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles published in English was conducted in August 2025 using five databases: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, and ASSIA. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program qualitative studies checklist was used to assess the quality of qualitative and mixed-methods studies. The Dahlgren and Whitehead model of the social determinants of health was used as a reference framework for data extraction and analysis. The themes that emerged during the data extraction process were used to create an adapted framework. Results: Out of 12,607 studies found, 32 studies were included for review. The COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on most of the social determinants of health among refugees and internally displaced persons in low and lower-middle income countries. Also, unfavorable health determinants of refugees and internally displaced persons residing in these countries made them more susceptible to COVID-19. Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic had bidirectional effects on refugees' and internally displaced persons' social determinants of health. The pandemic negatively affected their work conditions, economic status, education, and healthcare access. On the other hand, lack of access to clean water, crowded housing, and poor health literacy level affected their compliance with protective measures making them more prone to COVID-19 infection.

Indexed as

COVID-19Internally displaced personsLow-and lower-middle income countriesRefugeesSocial determinants of healthSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41245378
PMCPMC12616079

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.