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. 2020 Jun 5;15(6):e0233839.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233839. eCollection 2020.

Barriers & facilitators to healthcare and social services among undocumented Latino(a)/Latinx immigrant clients: Perspectives from frontline service providers in Southeast Michigan

Monika Doshi  1 , William D Lopez  1 , Hannah Mesa  1 , Richard Bryce  2 , Ellen Rabinowitz  3 , Raymond Rion  4 , Paul J Fleming  1
Affiliations

Barriers & facilitators to healthcare and social services among undocumented Latino(a)/Latinx immigrant clients: Perspectives from frontline service providers in Southeast Michigan

Monika Doshi et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Immigration- and enforcement-related policies and laws have significantly and negatively impacted the health and well-being of undocumented immigrants. We examine barriers and facilitators to healthcare and social services among undocumented Latino(a)/Latinx immigrants specifically in the post 2016 US presidential election socio-political climate. By grounding our study on the perspectives of frontline providers, we explore their challenges in meeting the needs of their undocumented clients. These include client access to healthcare and social services, the barriers providers face in providing timely and effective services, and avenues to reduce or overcome factors that impede service provision to improve quality of care for this population. Data are from 28 in-depth interviews with frontline healthcare and social service providers. Based on data analysis, we found that the domains of the Three Delays Model used in obstetric care provided a good framework for organizing and framing the responses. Our findings suggest that these undocumented clients encounter three phases of delay: delay in the decision to seek care, delay in identifying and traveling to healthcare facilities, and delay in receiving adequate and appropriate care at healthcare facilities. Given the current socio-political climate for immigrants, healthcare and social services organizations that serve undocumented clients should adapt existing services or introduce new services, including those that are not site-based.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Three delays model.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Phase I delay.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Phase II delay.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Phase III delay.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Three delays model (factors detailed).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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