Access to health services for international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.
Alice Blukacz, Báltica Cabieses, Alexandra Obach and 3 others
PMID 37603877WHAT IT FOUND
Migrants in Chile reported being denied care or avoiding hospitals due to fear of deportation and xenophobia.
Formal employment and family networks helped enrollment, but language barriers and cultural insensitivity hindered access to diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.
Key findings
01Immigration status was the primary barrier, with participants reporting denied care or avoiding health centers due to fear of being reported to authorities.
02Formal employment and existing family enrollment in the health system were key facilitators for gaining health coverage.
03Participants experienced xenophobic attitudes from providers, including derogatory comments and questions about hygiene based on nationality.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study only included Spanish-speaking participants with internet access, excluding those with higher vulnerability such as non-Spanish speakers or those without digital resources. Participants were recruited through extended networks and a migrant service organization, which may not represent the broader migrant population. The study is exploratory and qualitative, so findings cannot be generalized to all migrants in Chile or other contexts.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that a specific intervention improves health outcomes. This study describes perceived barriers and facilitators in a specific context and cannot prove that addressing these factors will reduce disparities or improve clinical results.