Language Barriers and the Role of Interpreters: A Challenge in the Work with Migrants and Refugees

Kletečka-Pulker, Maria; Parrag, Sabine; Drožđek, Boris; Wenzel, Thomas

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-72914-5_14

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The simple provision of existing translated information material is another challenge (r18). With the prospect of successful implementation of infection control measures by residents in refugee shelters, this barrier could be overcome by providing oral information to refugee shelter residents through translators 23…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 pandemic in shelters for asylum seekers: a scoping review of preventive measures

et al. 2022

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ObjectiveTo investigate which measures are recommended by guidelines on prevention and management of infectious disease outbreaks in refugee shelters, how outbreaks have been dealt with in these facilities in the past and how measures taken compare with the recommendations identified in the literature.Design, data sources and eligibility criteriaThe review comprised German and English language literature on refugees residing in shelters located in high-income countries, published between 1990 and 2021. We searched PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science.Data extraction and synthesisWe extracted information concerning the characteristics of the setting and the study population, measures for outbreak prevention and reported difficulties with implementing these measures. The findings were evaluated using descriptive statistics and were narratively summarised.ResultsOf a total of 1162 publications, 36 were included in the review, of which 19 were original research articles and 17 were guidelines/commentaries. In the guidelines, 37 different measures of infection control were mentioned. Among those, social distancing and isolation or quarantine were mentioned most frequently. In the outbreak reports, 27 different measures were reported, of which testing was reported most often. Different reasons why recommendations are difficult to implement in shelters were described, which are related to space, equipment, staff and financial constraints. Discrepancies between recommendations and actual practice mostly relate to the lack of preparation for outbreaks and the lack of appropriate measures to ensure intersectoral cooperation.ConclusionsRecommendations on infection control and outbreak management and the measures actually taken in refugee shelters differ considerably. Among others, this results from a lack of intersectoral cooperation between state ministries, municipal health offices and the administration of the facilities as well as from guidelines not sufficiently tailored to the characteristics of refugee shelters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 pandemic in shelters for asylum seekers: a scoping review of preventive measures

et al. 2022

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“…We assume that various structural, political, and socio-cultural factors might in general create barriers for migrants in the use of the healthcare system [ 90 ], contributing to these delays. Therefore, language [ 91 ] and culture sensitive healthcare measures for migrants are required, but in Austria, they have so far been insufficiently implemented to increase the timely utilisation of the healthcare offered [ 92 ]. Equal access to healthcare is universally accepted as part of the human rights system [ 93 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcultural Differences in Risk Factors and in Triggering Reasons of Suicidal and Self-Harming Behaviour in Young People with and without a Migration Background

Özlü-Erkilic

Wenzel

Kothgassner

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Minors with and without migration background can have different risk factors and triggering reasons for self-harming and suicidal behaviour. We retrospectively analysed the data of 192 children and adolescents to investigate the transcultural differences in self-harming, as well as suicidal behaviour in Austrian, Turkish, and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS)-speaking patients, who were treated in an emergency out-patient clinic in Vienna. Our results showed transcultural differences in both behaviours. In all groups, females had higher rates of suicide attempts and self-harming behaviour than males. While Turkish-speaking patients received treatment more often, after attempted suicide, Austrians and BCS-speaking patients needed treatment more often for acute stress disorder. Suicide attempts and self-harming behaviours were triggered most frequently by intrafamilial problems, but more frequently in migrant patients. Turkish-speaking patients were at a more than 2 times (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.408–3.477) higher risk for suicide attempts, and were triggered almost 3 times (OR = 2.94, 95%CI: 1.632–5.304) more often by interfamilial conflicts. The suicide attempts of BCS-speaking minors were more often caused by relationship and separation crises (OR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.148–5.705). These transcultural differences in suicidal and self-harming behaviour of minors, demand an increase of transcultural competence to provide optimal treatment of migrant children.

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“…Low language proficiency has also been linked to raised feelings of loneliness among Somali immigrants in Western countries [ 18 , 22 ], and loneliness is, in turn, a known risk factor for depressive symptoms [ 23 ]. Moreover, communication difficulties arising from low language proficiency may complicate the contact with a mental healthcare professional, which may result in suboptimal quality of the care received [ 24 ]. This may be stressful and could, depending on the individual’s coping behavior, result in negative emotions, which, ultimately, is detrimental for mental health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social integration and mental health of Somali refugees in the Netherlands: the role of perceived discrimination

Kuppens

Broek

2022

BMC Public Health

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Background We assess whether social integration is associated with mental health among Somali refugees in the Netherlands, and how this association is shaped by perceived discrimination. Methods We performed linear regression and formal mediation analyses on Survey Integration Minorities data (n = 417) to assess whether the effects of two facets of social integration – Dutch language proficiency and informal contacts with natives – on mental health were mediated or suppressed by perceived discrimination. Results Dutch language proficiency was positively associated with mental health, but also with perceived discrimination. Informal contact with natives was not significantly associated with mental health or perceived discrimination. There was marginally significant evidence (p < .1) that perceived discrimination suppressed the positive association between Dutch language proficiency and mental health. Discussion Greater Dutch language proficiency appears to be beneficial for Somali refugees’ mental health, but this effect may partly be cancelled by the associated stronger experiences of discrimination.

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Language Barriers and the Role of Interpreters: A Challenge in the Work with Migrants and Refugees

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

COVID-19 pandemic in shelters for asylum seekers: a scoping review of preventive measures

COVID-19 pandemic in shelters for asylum seekers: a scoping review of preventive measures

Transcultural Differences in Risk Factors and in Triggering Reasons of Suicidal and Self-Harming Behaviour in Young People with and without a Migration Background

Social integration and mental health of Somali refugees in the Netherlands: the role of perceived discrimination

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