A systematic review to identify key elements of effective public health interventions that address barriers to health services for refugees

Jallow, Musa; Haith-Cooper, Melanie; Hargan, Jae; Balaam, Marie‐Clare

doi:10.1007/s10389-021-01519-9

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Immigrants face multiple barriers to accessing health services and are at risk of remaining untreated which may lead to chronicity (30). Language di culties, unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, cultural differences, lack of con dence in the healthcare system, legal issues, inadequate knowledge of healthcare professionals, and structural racism are some of the barriers that lead to poor and fragmented usage of healthcare services by immigrants (31).…”

Section: Summary Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Burden of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Immigrant Populations: A Scoping Review

Tsetseri

Keene

Silman

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This review investigates the burden, prevalence, and associated factors of chronic musculoskeletal pain in immigrants in Europe during the last decade with a focus on immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East. The intentions of the review are to inform healthcare policymakers, to identify gaps in the literature, and aid the planning of future research. Eleven observational studies were identified using online databases. Data suggest that chronic pain is more prevalent, more widespread, and more severe in immigrants, and that chronic pain deteriorates with length of stay in the destination country. Immigrant women were identified as a particularly vulnerable group for developing chronic pain and comorbid mental health disorders. Older age, lower education, financial hardship, being underweight or obese, time in transit during migration, experience of trauma, and immigration status were also associated with chronic pain. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses were also more prevalent in immigrants and were significantly associated with chronic pain. Several gaps in the literature were identified: research is limited in terms of quantity and quality, does not reflect actual immigration trends, and does not account for immigration factors.

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Section: Summary Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Burden of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Immigrant Populations: A Scoping Review

Tsetseri

Keene

Silman

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Health agencies emphasize that standards and approaches be adapted to diverse contexts [ 11 ], attentive to diversity within migrant populations [ 30 ], and tailored to community specific barriers, beliefs, practices, and motivations [ 11 , 30 – 33 ]. To increase COVID-19 vaccine coverage for newcomers specifically, systems must include accessible, low barrier, linguistically appropriate, and culturally responsive services [ 11 , 17 , 32 , 34 ], tailored information campaigns [ 11 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 26 , 30 – 33 ], and community consultations and non-governmental partnerships [ 10 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 31 , 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An exploration of COVID-19 vaccination models for newcomer refugees and immigrants in Calgary, Canada

Aghajafari,

Wall,

Weightman

et al. 2024

Arch Public Health

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Background The World Health Organization stresses the need for tailored COVID-19 models of vaccination to meet the needs of diverse populations and ultimately reach high rates of vaccination. However, little evidence exists on how COVID-19 models of vaccination operated in the novel context of the pandemic, how vulnerable populations, such as refugees, experience COVID-19 vaccination systems in high-income countries, and what lessons may be learned from vaccination efforts with vulnerable populations. To address this gap, this study explored COVID-19 vaccine delivery models available to newcomer refugees and immigrants, and refugee experiences across different COVID-19 vaccine delivery models in Calgary, Canada, and surrounding area in 2021 and 2022, to understand the barriers, strengths, and strategies of models to support access to COVID-19 vaccination for newcomer refugees and immigrants. Methods Researchers conducted structured interviews with Government Assisted Refugees (n = 39), and semi-structured interviews with Privately Sponsored Refugees (n = 6), private refugee sponsors (n = 3), and stakeholders involved in vaccination systems (n = 13) in 2022. Thematic analysis was conducted to draw out themes related to barriers, strengths, and strategies of vaccine delivery models and the intersections with patient experiences. Results Newcomer refugee and immigrant focused vaccination models and strategies were explored. They demonstrated how partnerships between organizations, multi-pronged approaches, and culturally responsive services were crucial to navigate ongoing and emergent factors, such as vaccine hesitancy, mandates, and other determinants of under-vaccination. Many vaccination models presented through interviews were not specific to refugees and included immigrants, temporary residents, ethnocultural community members, and other vulnerable populations in their design. Conclusions Increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake for newcomer refugees and immigrants, is complex and requires trust, ongoing information provision, and local partnerships to address ongoing and emerging factors. Three key policy implications were drawn. First, findings demonstrated the need for flexible funding to offer outreach, translation, cultural interpretation, and to meet the basic needs of patients prior to engaging in vaccinations. Second, the research showed that embedding culturally responsive strategies within services ensures community needs are met. Finally, collaborating with partners that reflect the diverse needs of communities is crucial for the success of any health efforts serving newcomers.

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“…Peer volunteering is an increasingly used as a community based intervention to support people who are asylum seekers and refugees to access health and other services. A recent systematic review (Jallow et al, 2021) identified peer volunteering as an effective and key aspect of community interventions designed to address barriers to health service uptake in refugee populations. There are clear benefits for the recipients of the intervention (McCarthy & Haith‐Cooper, 2013) however, it is important to consider the benefits for the volunteers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the experiences and impact of the Health Access for Refugees (HARP) project on peer volunteers in Northern England

Balaam

Haith-Cooper

Mathew

et al. 2023

Journal Community Psychology

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Community‐based peer volunteer interventions are increasingly used with people who are asylum seekers and refugees accessing health services. There is a dearth of evidence evaluating the benefits of volunteering for asylum seeking or refugee volunteers. Volunteers may have poor mental health and feel socially isolated due to their experiences as refugees and asylum seekers and may struggle or be unable to obtain paid employment. Volunteering in other contexts has been found to be beneficial to the health and well‐being of the volunteer. This paper reports on an aspect of a wider study evaluating the community‐based Health Access for Refugees Project, with the aim of exploring the impact of volunteering on the health and well‐being of the peer (asylum seeker or refugee) volunteer. In 2020, we conducted qualitative semistructured interviews by phone with 15 volunteers who were asylum seekers or refugees. The interviews were audio recorded, data were transcribed verbatim and the data set was thematically analysed. We found that the positive relationships which developed and the training received through volunteering boosted volunteers' mental well‐being. They felt motivated and confident in helping others, felt a sense of belonging and this reduced their social isolation. They also believed they benefited personally, helping their access to health services, and preparing them for future education, training or a career. In light of the beneficial nature of volunteering identified in this study, establishing more volunteering opportunities for this population and other marginalised groups with poor mental health is recommended. However, more research is needed to assess both the long‐term impact of the role in terms of the peer volunteer's health and well‐being, and the societal benefit of people moving on, integrating and contributing to society.

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A systematic review to identify key elements of effective public health interventions that address barriers to health services for refugees

Cited by 8 publications

References 47 publications

Exploring the Burden of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Immigrant Populations: A Scoping Review

Exploring the Burden of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Immigrant Populations: A Scoping Review

An exploration of COVID-19 vaccination models for newcomer refugees and immigrants in Calgary, Canada

Evaluating the experiences and impact of the Health Access for Refugees (HARP) project on peer volunteers in Northern England

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