How do refugee youth use social media and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)? Is ICT use relevant to refugee health and well-being? We conducted a systematic scoping review to identify current social media use behaviors. We examined impacts of social media and information sharing applications on health, well-being, inclusion, and integration of refugees into host countries. Review findings reveal that refugee youth commonly use ICTs for social networking, presentation of self, health information consumption, and political rights. Studies suggest that uptake of social media through personal mobile devices, such as smartphones, positively enhanced interactions of newly arrived refugees. Our review identifies policy opportunities to enable social media to facilitate delivery of resettlement and health information, to foster integration for refugees, and to improve their health.
Following resettlement in high-income countries, many immigrants and refugees experience barriers to accessing primary healthcare. Local non-medical settlement organizations, such as the Local Immigration Partnerships in Canada, that support immigrant integration, may also support access to mental health and healthcare services for immigrant populations. This scoping review aims to identify and map the types and characteristics of approaches and interventions that immigrant settlement organizations undertake to support access to primary healthcare for clients. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Social Services Abstracts, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases from 1 May 2013 to 31 May 2021 and mapped research findings using the Social-Ecological Model. The search identified 3299 citations; 10 studies met all inclusion criteria. Results suggest these organizations support access to primary healthcare services, often at the individual, relationship and community level, by collaborating with health sector partners in the community, connecting clients to health services and service providers, advocating for immigrant health, providing educational programming, and initiating community development/mobilization and advocacy activities. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of local non-medical immigrant settlement organizations involved in health care planning and service delivery on reducing barriers to access in order for primary care services to reach marginalized, high-need immigrant populations.
This paper introduces the Migrant Populations Equity Extension for Ontario's Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) initiatives. It provides a mechanism to address the needs of migrant populations, within a program and policy framework. Validation of an equity extension framework using community leaders and health practitioners engaged in HEIA workshops across Ontario. Participants assessed migrants' health needs and discussed how to integrate these needs into health policy. The Migrant Populations Equity Extension's framework assists decision makers assess relevant populations, collaborate with immigrant communities, improve policy development and mitigate unintended negative impacts of policy initiatives. The tool framework aims to build stakeholder capacity and improve their ability to conduct HEIAs while including migrant populations. The workshops engaged participants in equity discussions, enhanced their knowledge of migrant policy development and promoted HEIA tools in health decision-making. Prior to these workshops, many participants were unaware of the HEIA tool. The workshops informed the validation of the equity extension and support materials for training staff in government and public health. Ongoing research on policy implementation would be valuable. Public health practitioners and migrant communities can use the equity extension's framework to support decision-making processes and address health inequities. This framework may improve policy development and reduce health inequities for Ontario's diverse migrant populations. Many countries are now using health impact assessment and health equity frameworks. This migration population equity extension is an internationally unique framework that engages migrant communities.
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