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The place oof health and the micro-prowers of health professionals in rtenetion centers for unauthorised migrants multi-situated ethnographic research (France-Spain).
Lurbe-Puerto, Katia; Baumann, Michèle
2011In Social Relations in Turbulent Times
Peer reviewed
 

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Keywords :
Immigrants; Retention Centres; Health
Abstract :
[en] This research aimed to identify the place of health in Immigrants Retention Centres (IRC) and analyse the role of the health professionals regarding border control and immigration policies. The current structures to confine unauthorised migrants seem to address a two-fold issue: the repressive approach to controlling immigration and the increasing set-up of facilities participating in a mode of government centred on national security concern. Method. Ethnographical study was conducted in the Medical Units of a French (capacity: 35 pers.) and a Spanish (150 pers.) ICR for respectively, 9-months with a regularity of 30 half-days of presence every fortnight and 21 continuous days over a 3-weeks period. Qualitative data from observational notes and conversional interviews were triangulated and analysed under the Critical Categorical Content Discourse method, with Atlas.ti support. Findings. Illnesses that could halt deportation were infectious diseases involving treatment requiring a specialized infrastructure (tuberculosis); in France, those whose representation is bound to feelings of fear and disgust (mange) and mental illness that poses a threat to the individual and other persons; in Spain, pregnancy is a reason to allow a release from IRC. Squats are raid when expulsion quotas need to be filled; it accounted for the increased number of substance dependent persons in ICR at that time. Health professionals in IRC confront moral dilemmas. In France, they have a recognised micro-power able to overturn a deportation order: the medical certificate. Discussion. In ensuring healthcare access, they are drawn into the vigilance and control logics of the IRC security regime, despite themselves. Standardization of the medical practices is their main fall back and provides for risks management, which relies on the architecture and the neatness of the space, individual strategies of exception and social relationship that are shaped by a moral economy. The retreat into medical grounds allows keeping things “professional”and helps balance the tension resulting from providing medical care in a space that automatically appears to translate any act into one carried out in compliance with the repressive policy against undesired migration. Institutionalisation of European IRC medical units network is recommended to confront inequalities in care (access and quality).
Research center :
- Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) > Institute for Health and Behaviour
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Public health, health care sciences & services
Author, co-author :
Lurbe-Puerto, Katia 
Baumann, Michèle ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
External co-authors :
no
Language :
English
Title :
The place oof health and the micro-prowers of health professionals in rtenetion centers for unauthorised migrants multi-situated ethnographic research (France-Spain).
Publication date :
2011
Event name :
10th Conference of the European Sociological Association
Event organizer :
Euroepan Sociology Association
Event place :
Geneve, Switzerland
Event date :
7th to 10th September 2011
Audience :
International
Main work title :
Social Relations in Turbulent Times
Publisher :
ESA, Geneva, Switzerland
Edition :
European Sociological Association (ESA) & University of Geneva & Swiss Sociological Association
Pages :
368
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Funders :
University of Luxembourg - UL
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since 11 November 2013

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