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. 2023 Aug 14;57(spe):e20220443.
doi: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2022-0443en. eCollection 2023.

Access to health services for international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

[Article in English, Spanish]
Alice Blukacz  1 , Báltica Cabieses  1 , Alexandra Obach  1 , Alejandra Carreño  1 , Carolina Stefoni  2 , Claudia Pérez  3
Affiliations

Access to health services for international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

[Article in English, Spanish]
Alice Blukacz et al. Rev Esc Enferm USP. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

Objective: To explore the experience and perception of international migrants in Chile regarding access to health services during the pandemic.

Method: Collective case study following the qualitative paradigm. Forty semi-structured interviews were carried out with 30 migrants from different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and 10 key actors from the health or social sector in November and December 2020. The interviews were analyzed thematically.

Results: Perceived facilitators for general access to health services are related to formal work, support networks, and good treatment, while barriers are linked to immigration status, information gaps, discrimination, lack of cross-cultural skills, and personal limits of the system. In the context of access to COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, the main barriers identified are: cultural approach to the disease, communication gaps, experiences of discrimination, costs, and lack of support networks.

Conclusion: Access to health services is related to social vulnerability and violation of international migrants rights.

Objetivo:: Explorar la experiencia y percepción de las personas migrantes internacionales en Chile en torno al acceso a servicios de salud durante la pandemia.

Método:: Estudio de caso colectivo bajo el paradigma cualitativo. Se llevaron a cabo 40 entrevistas semi-estructuradas con 30 personas migrantes provenientes de diferentes países de América Latina y el Caribe y 10 actores clave del sector salud o social en noviembre y diciembre 2020. Se analizaron las entrevistas temáticamente.

Resultados:: Los facilitadores percibidos para el acceso general a servicios de salud se relacionan con el trabajo formal, las redes de apoyo y el buen trato, mientras que las barreras se vinculan con situación migratoria, brechas de información, discriminación, falta de competencias interculturales y límites propios del sistema. En contexto de acceso a diagnóstico y tratamiento de COVID-19, se identifican principalmente barreras: abordaje cultural de la enfermedad, brechas comunicacionales, experiencias de discriminación, costos y faltas de redes de apoyo.

Conclusión:: El acceso a servicios de salud se vincula con vulnerabilidad social y vulneración de derechos de las personas migrantes internacionales.

Objetivo:: Explorar a experiência e a percepção dos migrantes internacionais no Chile sobre o acesso aos serviços de saúde durante a pandemia.

Método:: Estudo de caso coletivo sob o paradigma qualitativo. Foram realizadas 40 entrevistas semiestruturadas com 30 migrantes de diferentes países da América Latina e Caribe e 10 atores-chave do setor de saúde ou social em novembro e dezembro de 2020. As entrevistas foram analisadas tematicamente.

Resultados:: Os facilitadores percebidos para o acesso geral aos serviços de saúde estão relacionados ao trabalho formal, redes de apoio e bom tratamento, enquanto as barreiras estão ligadas ao status de imigração, lacunas de informação, discriminação, falta de habilidades interculturais e limites próprios do sistema. No contexto do acesso ao diagnóstico e tratamento da COVID-19, identificam-se principalmente barreiras: abordagem cultural da doença, lacunas de comunicação, vivências de discriminação, custos e falta de redes de apoio.

Conclusão:: O acesso aos serviços de saúde está vinculado à vulnerabilidade social e à violação dos direitos dos migrantes internacionais.

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