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. 2021 Feb;23(1):184-189.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-020-01104-4. Epub 2020 Oct 16.

Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Recently Resettled Refugee Populations in the United States and Canada: Perspectives of Refugee Healthcare Providers

Sarah K Clarke  1 , Gayathri S Kumar  2 , James Sutton  3 , Jacob Atem  4 , Anna Banerji  5 , Mahli Brindamour  6 , Paul Geltman  7 , Najah Zaaeed  8
Affiliations

Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Recently Resettled Refugee Populations in the United States and Canada: Perspectives of Refugee Healthcare Providers

Sarah K Clarke et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Recently resettled refugee populations may be at greater risk for exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), and face unique challenges in following recommendations to protect their health. Several factors place resettled refugees at elevated risk for exposure to persons with COVID-19 or increased severity of COVID-19: being more likely to experience poverty and live in crowded housing, being employed in less protected, service-sector jobs, experiencing language and health care access barriers, and having higher rates of co-morbidities. In preparing for and managing COVID-19, resettled refugees encounter similar barriers to those of other racial or ethnic minority populations, which may then be exacerbated by unique barriers experienced from being a refugee. Key recommendations for resettlement and healthcare providers include analyzing sociodemographic data about refugee patients, documenting and resolving barriers faced by refugees, developing refugee-specific outreach plans, using culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, ensuring medical interpretation availability, and leveraging virtual platforms along with nontraditional community partners to disseminate COVID-19 messaging.

Keywords: COVID-19; Culturally and linguistically appropriate services; Health disparities; Healthcare access; Language and cultural barriers; Primary care; Recommendations; Resettled refugee; Resettlement.

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