International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Editorial

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8 pages, 613 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Social Contexts and Immigration Policies Directly Impact Immigrant Health

by Maria De Jesus and Ernesto Castañeda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040586 - 9 Apr 2025

Viewed by 477

Abstract

At the end of 2023, an estimated 117 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

16 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Stigma and Social Networks on Role Expectations among African Immigrants Living with HIV

by Emmanuel F. Koku

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060782 - 15 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1443

Abstract

This paper examines how African immigrants living with HIV negotiate and reconstruct their productive (i.e., educational and career opportunities), sexual, and reproductive identities. We used data from a mixed-methods study to explore how stigma and social networks in which participants were embedded shaped [...] Read more.

This paper examines how African immigrants living with HIV negotiate and reconstruct their productive (i.e., educational and career opportunities), sexual, and reproductive identities. We used data from a mixed-methods study to explore how stigma and social networks in which participants were embedded shaped how they understood and negotiated their role expectations and responsibilities. Participants revealed how HIV not only changed their identities and limited their sex life, partner choices, and fundamental decisions about fertility and reproduction, but also presented them with the opportunity to reinvent/reshape their lives. Our analysis revealed that the cultural discourses about illness and HIV in participant’s countries of origin, the acculturative and migratory stressors, and the competing influences and expectations from family and friends in their home and host countries shape their illness experience, and how they adjust to life with HIV. This paper builds on sociological understanding of illness experience as a social construct that shapes the ill person’s identity, role, and function in society. Specifically, the paper contributes to discourses on how (i) participants’ social location and identity (as transnational migrants adjusting to acculturative stressors associated with resettlement into a new country), (ii) cultural discourses about illness and HIV in their countries of origin, and (iii) embeddedness in transnational social networks influence health outcomes, including lived experiences with chronic illnesses and stigmatized conditions such as HIV. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

11 pages, 1013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Potential Double-Edged Score of Immigration-Related Stress, Discrimination, and Mental Health Access

by Arthur R. Andrews, Kevin Escobar, Sandra Mariely Estrada Gonzalez, Sara Reyes and Laura M. Acosta

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030373 - 20 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2492

Abstract

Prior work has suggested that discrimination and immigration-related stress may impede mental health care seeking and utilization among Latinx populations. These effects may be more nuanced as both discrimination and immigration-related stress may increase symptomology, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Both [...] Read more.

Prior work has suggested that discrimination and immigration-related stress may impede mental health care seeking and utilization among Latinx populations. These effects may be more nuanced as both discrimination and immigration-related stress may increase symptomology, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Both symptoms may, in turn, prompt attempts to seek care. The current study examined the direct effects of discrimination and immigration-related stress on care access, as well as potentially indirect effects with PTSD and depression symptoms as mediators. Interviews and online surveys were completed with 234 Latinx residents of the Midwest, assessing everyday discrimination, discrimination in healthcare, PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, current mental health utilization, and previous unsuccessful attempts to seek care. Direct effects of discrimination and immigration-related stress were largely unrelated to care access variables. Discrimination in healthcare settings predicted both unsuccessful attempts to seek care and current use, but this effect was positive. The indirect effect was largely supported, but only for PTSD symptoms and not depression. Results indicate that further investigation is necessary to understand the direct effects of discrimination on care access. Further, discrimination and immigration-related stress may indirectly prompt attempts to seek mental health care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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15 pages, 884 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Qualitative Study of Adolescents from Refugee Backgrounds Living in Australia: Identity and Resettlement

by Nigar G. Khawaja and Robert D. Schweitzer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030281 - 28 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2684

Abstract

Identity formation among young people from refugee backgrounds is complex, as it occurs while they are both integrating into a novel cultural landscape and navigating the intricacies of adolescence. The present study explored sense of identity and experiences among refugee youth in the [...] Read more.

Identity formation among young people from refugee backgrounds is complex, as it occurs while they are both integrating into a novel cultural landscape and navigating the intricacies of adolescence. The present study explored sense of identity and experiences among refugee youth in the context of resettlement. Nineteen young people (15–18 years) from refugee backgrounds, settled in Brisbane, Australia, took part in the study. An individual semi-structured interview, drawing upon the Tree of Life method, was used. The thematic analysis (TA) methodology was adopted, and several themes emerged: experiencing changes in family roles; experience of belonging; experience of bonds with lost loved ones; dealing with emotions in a new context; experience of self in the context of change. There was one emergent overarching theme of meaning-making in the context of change. These themes were explicated within the framework of social identity and sociocultural theories, which emphasises the dynamic co-construction of identity through the interplay of belonging and meaning-making within specific contextual settings. This study highlights the fundamental role of social context, particularly the fostering of school belonging, in the multifaceted process of identity construction. The findings identify the importance of integrating multiple identities and experiences to develop a comprehensive and resilient sense of personal cohesion and selfhood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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15 pages, 371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 and Policy-Induced Inequalities: Exploring How Social and Economic Exclusions Impact ‘Temporary’ Migrant Men’s Health and Wellbeing in Australia

by Daile Lynn Rung

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136193 - 21 Jun 2023

Viewed by 2164

Abstract

The Australian government swiftly put in place a number of economic relief measures and policies to support people during the COVID-19 crisis. However, the government’s COVID-19 response policies excluded people with ‘temporary’ migrant status living in the country and encouraged people holding temporary [...] Read more.

The Australian government swiftly put in place a number of economic relief measures and policies to support people during the COVID-19 crisis. However, the government’s COVID-19 response policies excluded people with ‘temporary’ migrant status living in the country and encouraged people holding temporary visas who lost jobs and could no longer afford to support themselves to ‘go home’. This paper draws upon sub-citizenship theory to explore how Australia’s immigration and COVID-19 response policies are likely to impact the health and wellbeing of ‘temporary’ migrant men and their families. Through focusing on Australia’s policy approach towards ‘temporary’ migrants and the social, health, and human rights implications among men with temporary migrant status during the pandemic, this paper contributes to emerging literature that considers the intersectional implications of immigration and COVID-19 response policies as they pertain to people with precarious migration status. Applying sub-citizenship theory to analyse how Australia’s COVID-19 response policies intersect with ‘temporary’ migration schemes offers a useful way to think about and unearth how structural, and often legislated, exclusions can affect the health and wellbeing of marginalised groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

27 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Step by Step We Were Okay Now”: An Exploration of the Impact of Social Connectedness on the Well-Being of Congolese and Iraqi Refugee Women Resettled in the United States

by Caitlin Bletscher and Sara Spiers

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(7), 5324; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075324 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2781

Abstract

Little is known about the gendered impacts of the displacement and resettlement process. Women are known to struggle more with feelings of belonging and the creation of social networks to access essential information, resources, and social and emotional support to enhance their overall [...] Read more.

Little is known about the gendered impacts of the displacement and resettlement process. Women are known to struggle more with feelings of belonging and the creation of social networks to access essential information, resources, and social and emotional support to enhance their overall health and well-being. The purpose of the present study was to qualitatively explore female refugee perceptions of belongingness and social connectedness post-resettlement into their U.S. host community. Conducted between January and June of 2016, through the partnership of multiple governmental, nonprofit, and community-based organizations, two female focus groups were conducted among Congolese (n = 6) and Iraqi (n = 6) U.S. resettled refugees. Descriptive surveys were distributed to participants, providing valuable insights into participant demographics and indicators that could impact the integration process (i.e., age, language, country of origin, ethnicity, education, length of time spent in the U.S., housing). Participants discussed the social connections (individuals, communities, organizations) that acted as facilitators or inhibitors of developing social capital. The importance of building strong transformational bonding (family members, other refugees) and bridging (host community) relationships, alongside transactional ties with linking agencies (resettlement social services), was critical for a positive resettlement experience. The strength of their network ties among these social connections contributed to their perceptions of belongingness and well-being post-resettlement into their host community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

20 pages, 412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Implications of Health Disparities: A COVID-19 Risk Assessment of the Hispanic Community in El Paso

by Carina Cione, Emma Vetter, Deziree Jackson, Sarah McCarthy and Ernesto Castañeda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020975 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3973

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Latinos have suffered from disproportionately high rates of hospitalization and death related to the virus. Health disparities based on race and ethnicity are directly associated with heightened mortality and burden of illness [...] Read more.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Latinos have suffered from disproportionately high rates of hospitalization and death related to the virus. Health disparities based on race and ethnicity are directly associated with heightened mortality and burden of illness and act as underlying causes for the staggering impacts of COVID-19 in Latin communities in the United States. This is especially true in the city of El Paso, Texas, where over 82% of the population is Hispanic. To ascertain the level of danger that COVID-19 poses in El Paso, we constructed a point-in-time risk assessment of its Latin population and assessed a Latin individual’s likelihood of hospitalization or death related to COVID-19 by comparing relevant health profiles with high-risk co-morbidities that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified in 2020. Data for this risk assessment come from 1152 surveys conducted in El Paso. The assessment included comprehensive demographic, socioeconomic, and health data to analyze disparities across Hispanic sub-populations in the city. Results revealed that around 49.3% of Hispanics in the study had been previously diagnosed with a high-risk co-morbidity and therefore have an increased likelihood of hospitalization or death related to COVID-19. Additional factors that led to increased risk included low income, homelessness, lack of U.S. citizenship, and being insured. The findings from this study additionally demonstrate that structural inequality in the U.S. must be addressed, and preventive measures must be taken at local and state levels to decrease the mortality of pandemics. Baseline population health data can help with both of these goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

20 pages, 1936 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Resettled People Adapt to Their Current Geographical Environment? Evidence from Poverty-Stricken Areas of Northwest Yunnan Province, China

by Liquan Qu, Weidong Xiao and Weidong Gao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010193 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1898

Abstract

The geographical environment adaptation of the resettled population is a deep-seated problem that determines whether the goal of the poverty alleviation resettlement (PAR) policy can be achieved. Scientific assessment of adaptive capacity (AC) and adaptation level (AL) provides a basis for subsequent policy [...] Read more.

The geographical environment adaptation of the resettled population is a deep-seated problem that determines whether the goal of the poverty alleviation resettlement (PAR) policy can be achieved. Scientific assessment of adaptive capacity (AC) and adaptation level (AL) provides a basis for subsequent policy formulation, which is of practical significance. This study took the poverty-stricken areas of northwest Yunnan as the study area and calculated the adaptive capacity index (ACI) and adaptation level index (ALI) based on survey data of 1002 resettled households and regional socioeconomic statistics by constructing the vulnerability as expected poverty (VEP) model and multi-factor analysis model. The results showed that (1) The ACI and ALI were 0.660 and 61.2 respectively, indicating that the resettled population has obvious environment adaptation barriers and a relatively high risk of returning to poverty. (2) The AC and AL of the resettled population had significant geographical differentiation. In general, Diqing Prefecture was significantly better than Nujiang Prefecture and the problems in Gongshan County, Fugong County and Lanping County were more prominent. (3) AC is a determinant of AL. However, these two indices in Gongshan and Lanping counties deviated from the general trend due to different policy effects. Based on the evaluation results and differentiation mechanism analysis, the study finally emphasized the importance of formulating and implementing the follow-up development plan of the resettled population and put forward measures to promote the resettled population to adapt to the geographical environment around the three core tasks of employment income increase, public service and bottom guarantee. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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16 pages, 1017 KiB

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Network Diversity and Health Change among International Migrants in China: Evidence from Foreigners in Changchun

by Wenbin Wang and Yang Cao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16227; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316227 - 4 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2332

Abstract

Objective: Is the migration process likely to lead to sustained changes in individual social networks and health status? There are many controversies about the relationship between migrants’ networks and migrants’ health. An important reason may be that the constraints of specific social contexts [...] Read more.

Objective: Is the migration process likely to lead to sustained changes in individual social networks and health status? There are many controversies about the relationship between migrants’ networks and migrants’ health. An important reason may be that the constraints of specific social contexts on immigrant networks and health consequences are neglected. This study distinguished two types of social networks of international immigrants to China—their Chinese networks (Chinese-Net) and home-country networks (Motherland-Net). In addition, the study investigated the construction basis of immigrant social networks and health effects based on the Chinese context. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The survey was carried out by an on-site questionnaire survey of foreigners in China in the entry-exit hall of the National Immigration Administration. The survey asked foreigners about their immigration experience, labor and employment, social networks, and access to health care. Results and conclusions: Immigrants from more developed countries are more likely to succeed in establishing Chinese-Net and reduce the dependence on Motherland-Net. The Japanese and South Korean immigrants tended to be associated with their home-country compatriots, excluding the Chinese from social contacts and immigration networks. The mixed residence of non-home-country immigrants reduces both the Motherland-Net and Chinese-Net of international immigrants. From the perspective of the health effect, the establishment and expansion of Chinese-Net did not present the “bright side” of encouraging immigrants to reach a better health status. In contrast, Motherland-Net has a stronger explanatory power for the health changes in immigrants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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18 pages, 366 KiB

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Reskilled and Integrated, but How? Navigating Trauma and Temporary Hardships

by Cihan Aydiner and Erin L. Rider

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13675; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013675 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2248

Abstract

Immigrants are often pressed to show how they will contribute to a host country, thus proving through their conditions of entry and human capital whether they will be perceived as an asset or burden, and this is juxtaposed with the host country’s institutions [...] Read more.

Immigrants are often pressed to show how they will contribute to a host country, thus proving through their conditions of entry and human capital whether they will be perceived as an asset or burden, and this is juxtaposed with the host country’s institutions offering an improved quality of life, mainly through employment. Seeking employment is often a key factor to be economically assimilated, and in the case of highly educated Turkish migrants, the opportunity to reclaim their previous professional and quality of life statuses. Based on qualitative research, we have examined the experiences of highly educated Turkish people (n = 42) in the recently forced migrant population. Following events including terrorism and the coup on 15 July 2016, Türkiye experienced the highest forced migration in her history. With exiled Turkish migrants, the forced aspect of their migration prompts them to seek a host country that provides safety, and they are also driven to transfer their educational degrees and professional credentials. However, changing careers to become educated and certified in new fields takes time and resources, contributing to a fluctuating economic status and loss of well-being. Once this is regained, their economic situation is improved, but there is still the lost time from the immigration and transfer period. Thus, the process has positive and negative components, but understanding this nuanced process provides opportunities for policy reform that can shorten the time of re-education, increase employability, and support well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

12 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Mi Corazón se Partió en Dos”: Transnational Motherhood at the Intersection of Migration and Violence

by Laurie Cook Heffron, Karin Wachter and Esmeralda J. Rubalcava Hernandez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13404; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013404 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2918

Abstract

In the recent Central American migrations spurred by violence, political instability, and economic insecurity, women grapple with whether and when to bring their children with them in pursuit of safety in another country, and with fulfilling their roles as mothers from afar. Drawing [...] Read more.

In the recent Central American migrations spurred by violence, political instability, and economic insecurity, women grapple with whether and when to bring their children with them in pursuit of safety in another country, and with fulfilling their roles as mothers from afar. Drawing from the transnational motherhood literature and critical feminist theories, this interpretive qualitative study examined transnational motherhood grounded in the lived experiences of Central American women (n = 19) over the course of their migrations to the US. Informed by the principles of grounded theory, the inductive analysis identified five processes in which migration and violence shaped meanings of motherhood: risking everything, embodying separation, braving reunification, mothering others, and experiencing motherhood due to sexual violence. The findings contribute knowledge of how violence shapes and informs women’s migrations and decision-making, and the consequences women endure in taking action to mitigate threats of violence in their own and their children’s lives. The analysis furthermore highlights the specific and profound effects of family separation on mothers. The voices, perspectives, and experiences of migrating mothers and the ways in which migration and violence shapes notions and lived experiences of motherhood are imperative to research, practice, and advocacy to change oppressive immigration policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

21 pages, 1046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“We Need Health for All”: Mental Health and Barriers to Care among Latinxs in California and Connecticut

by Mario Alberto Viveros Espinoza-Kulick and Jessica P. Cerdeña

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12817; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912817 - 6 Oct 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7893

Abstract

Latinx (im)migrant groups remain underserved by existing mental health resources. Past research has illuminated the complex factors contributing to this problem, including migration-related trauma, discrimination, anti-immigrant policies, and structural vulnerability. This paper uses decolonial-inspired methods to present and analyze results from two studies [...] Read more.

Latinx (im)migrant groups remain underserved by existing mental health resources. Past research has illuminated the complex factors contributing to this problem, including migration-related trauma, discrimination, anti-immigrant policies, and structural vulnerability. This paper uses decolonial-inspired methods to present and analyze results from two studies of Latinx (im)migrant communities in central California and southern Connecticut in the United States. Using mixed quantitative and qualitative analysis, we demonstrate the intersectional complexities to be addressed in formulating effective mental health services. Relevant social and structural factors including knowledge of mental health, access to insurance, and experiencing discrimination were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms, based on linear regression analysis. Ethnographic interviews demonstrate how complex trauma informs mental health needs, especially through the gendered experiences of women. Overlapping aspects of gender, language barriers, fear of authorities, and immigration status contoured the lived experiences of Latinx (im)migrants. Thematic analyses of open-ended survey responses also provide recommendations for solutions based on the experiences of those directly affected by these health disparities, particularly relating to healthcare access, affordability, and capacity. Building from these findings and past research, we recommend the adoption of a comprehensive model of mental health service provision for Latinx (im)migrants that takes into account Indigenous language access, structural competency, expanded health insurance, and resources for community health workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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28 pages, 2124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaving the Homestead: Examining the Role of Relative Deprivation, Social Trust, and Urban Integration among Rural Farmers in China

by Wentao Si, Chen Jiang and Lin Meng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12658; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912658 - 3 Oct 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2455

Abstract

Actively promoting the orderly and voluntary withdrawal of idle rural house bases and effectively activating “sleeping” land assets are considered important measures to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, as well as promoting the integrated development of urban and rural areas. [...] Read more.

Actively promoting the orderly and voluntary withdrawal of idle rural house bases and effectively activating “sleeping” land assets are considered important measures to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, as well as promoting the integrated development of urban and rural areas. However, few studies have focused on the superimposed effects of negative psychological and social environmental factors on the willingness of farmers to withdraw from their homestead. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to clarify the logical ideas of rural home base withdrawal, analyze the factors that influence the decision of home base withdrawal behavior of interest subjects, and provide a scientific decision basis for promoting rural home base withdrawal and accelerating the process of transferring citizens of agricultural population in terms of policies, measures, and paths, so as to design and develop an incentive mechanism for home base withdrawal of citizens of agricultural transfer population. The results of the study show that: (1) the findings indicate that social deprivation, economic deprivation, and emotional deprivation all significantly and negatively affect farmers’ willingness to withdraw from their homesteads; (2) social trust plays a mediating role between relative deprivation and farmer homestead withdrawal behavior; and (3) urban integration plays a moderating role between social and emotional deprivation and the social trust of farmers, but does not have a significant moderating role in the relationship between economic deprivation and social trust. Furthermore, it plays a moderating role between all deprivation factors (i.e., economic, social, and emotional deprivation) and farmer homestead withdrawal behavior. This study aims to provide useful guidance and policy suggestions for optimizing policies related to farmer homestead withdrawal behaviors, and for scientifically designing the homestead withdrawal mechanism and policy system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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15 pages, 588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Living in Confinement, Stopped in Time”: Migrant Social Vulnerability, Coping and Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in France

by Maria De Jesus, Zoubida Moumni, Zara Hassan Sougui, Neeharika Biswas, Raquel Kubicz and Lionel Pourtau

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10084; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610084 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2900

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed health and social inequities among migrant populations. Less empirical evidence exists about the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on migrants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the first lockdown in France between March and May 2020 [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed health and social inequities among migrant populations. Less empirical evidence exists about the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on migrants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the first lockdown in France between March and May 2020 on migrants’ lives and livelihoods. We adopted a social vulnerability framework to conceptualize how the pandemic and the consequential lockdown in France contributed to a ‘compounded crisis’ for asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. This crisis encompassed health, protection, and socio-economic challenges for migrants and exposed the shortcomings of existing government policies that exclude migrants and do not address the root causes of health inequities. The study draws on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 75 asylum seekers and undocumented migrants during the pandemic lockdown in the French regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Île-de-France. The findings of this paper highlight the importance of implementing a cohesive pandemic response approach that views health as a fundamental inclusive right for all human beings and all policies as health policies to promote well-being for all. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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15 pages, 565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hoping for a Better Future during COVID-19: How Migration Plans Are Protective of Depressive Symptoms for Haitian Migrants Living in Chile

by Yijing Chen, Claudia Rafful, Mercedes Mercado, Lindsey Carte, Sonia Morales-Miranda, Judeline Cheristil and Teresita Rocha-Jiménez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9977; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169977 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3110

Abstract

This paper explores the migration experiences, perceived COVID-19 impacts, and depression symptoms among Haitian migrants living in Santiago, Chile. Ninety-five participants from eight neighborhoods with a high density of Haitian migrants were recruited. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and logistic regression analysis were conducted. [...] Read more.

This paper explores the migration experiences, perceived COVID-19 impacts, and depression symptoms among Haitian migrants living in Santiago, Chile. Ninety-five participants from eight neighborhoods with a high density of Haitian migrants were recruited. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and logistic regression analysis were conducted. Chi-squared tests were used to confirm univariate results. We found that 22% of participants had major depressive symptoms based on the CESD-R-20 scale, 87% reported major life changes due to COVID-19, and 78% said their migration plans had changed due to the pandemic. Factors associated with more depressive symptoms were being in debt (OR = 3.43) and experiencing discrimination (ORs: 0.60 to 6.19). Factors associated with less odds of depressive symptoms were social support (ORs: 0.06 to 0.25), change in migration plans due to COVID-19 (OR = 0.30), and planning to leave Chile (OR = 0.20). After accounting for relevant factors, planning to leave Chile is significantly predictive of fewer symptoms of depression. Haitian migrants living in Chile had a high prevalence of depression. Planning to leave Chile was a significant protector against depressive symptoms. Future studies should explore how nuanced experiences of uncertainty play out in migrants’ lives, mental well-being, and planning for their future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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18 pages, 13074 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indigenous Border Migrants and (Im)Mobility Policies in Chile in Times of COVID-19

by Carlos Piñones-Rivera, Nanette Liberona, Rodrigo Arancibia and Verónica Jiménez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9728; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159728 - 7 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2548

Abstract

The commodification of healthcare and the structural violence towards the migrant population in the Chilean system materialize in a series of structural barriers to accessing healthcare. In the face of this structural vulnerability, cross-border health mobility is one of the primary resources of [...] Read more.

The commodification of healthcare and the structural violence towards the migrant population in the Chilean system materialize in a series of structural barriers to accessing healthcare. In the face of this structural vulnerability, cross-border health mobility is one of the primary resources of indigenous border migrants living in the Tarapacá region (Chile). This involves crossing the border of both people (specialists/patients) and objects (such as ritual supplies or biomedicines), which play a crucial role as, in many cases, it is the only way to satisfy their healthcare needs. The security-orientated geopolitics of border closure (Plan Frontera Segura) has been reinforced by immobility policies linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. While doing so leaves people without the fundamental resource of healthcare mobility or obliges them to cross the border via unauthorized crossings, exposing them to criminalization and abuse by different agents of violence (the military, people smugglers, etc.). In this paper, we will offer a description of these processes of (im)mobility, analyzing their conformation both by the current policies of the Chilean State and by the notorious deficiency in indigenous and migrant rights, denouncing the material impact they have on the health/illness/care process of indigenous migrants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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10 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Movement Pandemic Adaptability: Health Inequity and Advocacy among Latinx Immigrant and Indigenous Peoples

by Mario Alberto Viveros Espinoza-Kulick

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 8981; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158981 - 23 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2937

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated longstanding inequities in resources and healthcare, stacked on top of historical systems that exploit immigrants and communities of color. The range of relief, mutual aid, and advocacy responses to the pandemic highlights the role of social movement organizations in [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated longstanding inequities in resources and healthcare, stacked on top of historical systems that exploit immigrants and communities of color. The range of relief, mutual aid, and advocacy responses to the pandemic highlights the role of social movement organizations in addressing the ways that immigration status creates systemic barriers to adequate health and wellbeing. This paper conceptualizes what I call, “movement pandemic adaptability,” drawing from a decolonial-inspired study including participant-observation (September 2018–September 2020), interviews (n = 31), and focus groups (n = 12) with community members and health advocates. Data collection began before the COVID-19 pandemic (September 2018–February 2019) and continued during its emergence and the initial shelter-in-place orders (March 2019–September 2020). Movement pandemic adaptability emerged as a strategy of drawing from pre-existing networks and solidarities to provide culturally relevant resources for resilience that addressed vulnerabilities created by restrictions against undocumented people and language barriers for communities that speak Spanish and a range of Indigenous languages. This paper presents how the relationship between immigration status and health is influenced by the local context, as well as the decisions of advocates, policymakers, and community members. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

16 pages, 369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Es Muy Tranquilo Aquí”: Perceptions of Safety and Calm among Binationally Mobile Mexican Immigrants in a Rural Border Community

by Rebecca M. Crocker, Karina Duenas, Luis Vázquez, Maia Ingram, Felina M. Cordova-Marks, Emma Torres and Scott Carvajal

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148399 - 9 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2001

Abstract

Perceptions of community can play an important role in determining health and well-being. We know little, however, about residents’ perceptions of community safety in the Southwestern borderlands, an area frequently portrayed as plagued by disorder. The qualitative aim of this community-based participatory research [...] Read more.

Perceptions of community can play an important role in determining health and well-being. We know little, however, about residents’ perceptions of community safety in the Southwestern borderlands, an area frequently portrayed as plagued by disorder. The qualitative aim of this community-based participatory research study was to explore the perceptions of Mexican-origin border residents about their communities in southern Yuma County, Arizona. Our team of University of Arizona researchers and staff from Campesinos Sin Fronteras, a grassroots farmworker support agency in Yuma County, Arizona, developed a bilingual interview guide and recruited participants through radio adds, flyers, and cold calls among existing agency clientele. Thirty individual interviews with participants of Mexican origin who live in and/or work in rural Yuma County were conducted remotely in 2021. Participants overwhelmingly perceived their communities as both calm and safe. While some participants mentioned safety concerns, the vast majority described high levels of personal security and credited both neighbors and police for ensuring local safety. These perceptions were stated in direct contrast to those across the border, where participants had positive familial and cultural ties but negative perceptions regarding widespread violence. In conclusion, we argue that to understand environmental factors affecting health and well-being in Mexican immigrant populations, it is critical to examine the role of binational external referents that color community perceptions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

19 pages, 3014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Media Coverage on the Negative Perception of Migrants in Chile

by Andrés Scherman, Nicolle Etchegaray, Isabel Pavez and Daniela Grassau

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8219; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138219 - 5 Jul 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5305

Abstract

How mass media frame information about migrants is vital to further their well-being and social inclusion in the host society. However, it can also encourage forms of discrimination and xenophobia. In Chile, migration is a theme of great relevance due to a substantial [...] Read more.

How mass media frame information about migrants is vital to further their well-being and social inclusion in the host society. However, it can also encourage forms of discrimination and xenophobia. In Chile, migration is a theme of great relevance due to a substantial increase in the flow of migrants over the last ten years, as well as the acts of extreme violence toward this group. Thus, this research analyzes how mass media coverage of migrants influences Chileans’ perception of migrants. Adopting an experimental design, we implemented a large-scale, representative online survey with citizens over 18 years of age (N = 2227) and an experiment with combined access to positive and negative news about migrants in different news outlets. The regression analysis showed differences between citizens regarding the type of daily relationships they are willing to maintain with the migrant population. Furthermore, exposure to news about migration was the primary variable that explains why people consider this phenomenon one of the main problems affecting the country, confirming the agenda-setting theory. The experiment also indicated a causal relationship between the exposure to negative content and negative judgment about this group and their presence in the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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18 pages, 732 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Family Interventions for Trauma-Affected Refugees

by Chansophal Mak and Elizabeth Wieling

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9361; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159361 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4705

Abstract

Family connections are crucial for trauma-affected refugees from collectivistic cultures. Evidence-based family interventions are consistently promoted to support a host of mental and relational health needs of families exposed to traumatic stressors; however, there is still limited research focused on cultural adaptation and [...] Read more.

Family connections are crucial for trauma-affected refugees from collectivistic cultures. Evidence-based family interventions are consistently promoted to support a host of mental and relational health needs of families exposed to traumatic stressors; however, there is still limited research focused on cultural adaptation and the testing of the effectiveness of these interventions on some of the most disenfranchised populations in the aftermath of forced displacement. This systematic review was conducted to examine the reach of existing evidence-based family interventions implemented with newly resettled refugees globally. Studies included in this review include those testing the effectiveness of a systemic treatment with pre and post intervention evaluation, studies with or without control groups, and studies that include at least one family member in addition to the target participants. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Barriers to conducting randomized control trials with displaced refugee populations are discussed. Recommendations are made for future studies to include a focus on scientifically rigorous multi-method designs, specific cultural adaptation frameworks, and the integration of relational aspects rather than focusing only on individual adjustment. Global displacement continues to rise; therefore, it is imperative that the mental health and wellbeing of displaced populations be treated with a comprehensive, multi-level framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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21 pages, 683 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

The Most Vulnerable Hispanic Immigrants in New York City: Structural Racism and Gendered Differences in COVID-19 Deaths

by Norma Fuentes-Mayorga and Alfredo Cuecuecha Mendoza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5838; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105838 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2200

Abstract

This paper explores the structural and group-specific factors explaining the excess death rates experienced by the Hispanic population in New York City during the peak years of the coronavirus pandemic. Neighborhood-level analysis of Census data allows an exploration of the relation between Hispanic [...] Read more.

This paper explores the structural and group-specific factors explaining the excess death rates experienced by the Hispanic population in New York City during the peak years of the coronavirus pandemic. Neighborhood-level analysis of Census data allows an exploration of the relation between Hispanic COVID-19 deaths and spatial concentration, conceived in this study as a proxy for structural racism. This analysis also provides a more detailed exploration of the role of gender in understanding the effects of spatial segregation among different Hispanic subgroups, as gender has emerged as a significant variable in explaining the structural and social effects of COVID-19. Our results show a positive correlation between COVID-19 death rates and the share of Hispanic neighborhood residents. However, for men, this correlation cannot be explained by the characteristics of the neighborhood, as it is for women. In sum, we find: (a) differences in mortality risks between Hispanic men and women; (b) that weathering effects increase mortality risks the longer Hispanic immigrant groups reside in the U.S.; (c) that Hispanic males experience greater contagion and mortality risks associated with the workplace; and (d) we find evidence corroborating the importance of access to health insurance and citizenship status in reducing mortality risks. The findings propose revisiting the Hispanic health paradox with the use of structural racism and gendered frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Migration Status: Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being)

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