Prenatal care of Venezuelans in Colombia: migrants navigating the healthcare system

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To explore the experiences of irregular (undocumented) Venezuelan migrants in accessing prenatal health services in Colombia and to examine the economic, social, and cultural resources mobilized by them to gain access to care. METHODS Data was retrieved from the qualitative component of a multi-method research conducted with pregnant immigrants in Barranquilla, Colombia, between 2018 and 2019, and triangulated with a review of regulations established by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. RESULTS Having limited economic capital, participants use social capital from personal networks and migrant organizations. They obtain cultural health capital in the form of information on the health system and use their cultural competencies to interact with this system. CONCLUSIONS Migrants exert their agency through the use of capitals, although with certain constraints. Policies aimed at this social group should consider the strengths of migrants.

Interrupción voluntaria del embarazo y salud sexual y reproductiva en mujeres migrantes en Barranquilla

“…Nuestros resultados muestran barreras para acceso a la atención en SSR de migrantes venezolanas en Colombia, similares a los “itinerarios burocráticos” observados por Abadía et al, es decir, recorridos y trámites a los que se enfrenta un paciente en busca de atención médica ( 26 ). Se destacó, además, la falta de aseguramiento en salud entre la población migrante, que se suma a los problemas inherentes al sistema de salud colombiano ( 27 ). Sin embargo; es importante reconocer que muchas de estas barreras de tipo administrativo afectan también a las mujeres colombianas de ingresos más bajos, en especial del mismo nivel educativo ( 28 ).…”

The impact of social violence on HIV risk for women in Colombia: A concurrent mixed methods study

“…Health is a right in Colombia under the Constitution. In response to the increasing incoming Venezuelan migration flows, the Ministry of Health established that migrants/refugees (including those with irregular migration status) are entitled to emergency care (including prenatal care and some reproductive health services) and public health actions [53]. Health policies for international migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Colombia are based in a human rights framework and immigrants are entitled to health care with limitations depending on migration status (i.e.…”

Perceptions of Health Needs among Venezuelan Women Crossing the Border in Northern Chile during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Being a migrant woman implies a double-fold discrimination, intersecting with other factors linked to legal and social status, as well as ethnicity [ 1 ]. The evidence shows that in different contexts, migrant women underutilize maternity services [ 35 ], are more exposed to the risk of giving birth prematurely, and face barriers to accessing birth control, fertility care, and safe abortion care [ 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…In Latin America, from a gender perspective, the existing evidence points to existing inequities in sexual and reproductive health, affecting migrant women in particular [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. However, this evidence is focused on maternal health, leaving behind key health issues beyond merely the female reproductive function, such as sexual and mental health.…”