title: Self-perceived health and quality of life among Azorean deportees: a cross sectional descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immigration policies can cause significant public health consequences, posing detrimental social and health effects for migrants, their families and communities. Migrants often face obstacles to health due to access, discrimination, language and cultural barriers, legal status, economic difficulties, social isolation, and fear of deportation. The process of deportation has become more rapid and frequent in the U.S. with inadequate health information in the literature regarding this relocated population post-deportation. The PROMIS(®) Global Health Short Form was used to measure the self-reported QOL, physical and mental health of male deportees from the US to Portugal from 2009 to 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty five males aged 28-64 years who had been deported from the US to Portugal participated in the study. Overall, their EuroQol, Global Physical Health and Global Mental Health Scores were below the established tool mean, with self-reported mental health having the lowest score. Age, marital status, length of time in the US prior to deportation, and length of time since deportation may impact the well-being of deportees post deportation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study results suggest the deportees in this study were less healthy than the general population. Future research and tailored initiatives regarding the overall health of deportees, with a focus on quality of life and mental health should be conducted to better understand their impact on reintegration. Overall study scores were lower than mean tool scores indicating the need for more research in this vulnerable group to support clinical practice and health policy to improve their overall QOL and health through intervention work.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747 USA.
authors.forename: Maryellen D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brisbois
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde da Universidade dos Açores Secção de Ponta Delgada, Apartado 1422, 9501-855 Ponta Delgada, Ladeira da Mãe de Deus, Azores Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena Oliveira
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde da Universidade dos Açores Secção de Ponta Delgada, Apartado 1422, 9501-855 Ponta Delgada, Ladeira da Mãe de Deus, Azores Portugal.
authors.forename: Helder Rocha
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747 USA.
authors.forename: Kristen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sethares
keywords: Deportation; Mental health; Physical health; Quality of life; Self-report