A Case for Achieving Refugee Health Equity: Dismantling the Influence of Structural Oppression in Refugee Health Disparities

Abstract

In the context of rising global displacement and the politicization of humanitarian assistance, refugee health disparities are worsening due to trauma, stigma, and limited access to health and social services. Structural oppression, rooted in state policies and dominant nationalist narratives, perpetuates these inequities, which are often overlooked in mainstream health equity literature. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a promising approach to address these disparities by fostering equitable partnerships and empowering refugee communities. This focus issue highlights one editorial about the health impacts of structural oppression experienced by Palestinian refugees and five empirical studies using CBPR to counter structural oppression and promote refugee health equity across physical, mental, and social domains. Collectively, these contributions provide a roadmap for advancing refugee well-being through community engagement and the need for sustained structural transformation.