A Cross-Sectional Survey on Professionals to Assess Health Needs of Newly Arrived Migrants in Spain

Abstract

Heightened conflicts and lack of safety due to reasons related to economic, social, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, political, or nationality matters have increased migratory movements during the last, few decades. Unfortunately, when migrants arrive in new territories, they can face many barriers. For example, in Spain, some migrants have difficulties in accessing health services. The main objective of this study was to describe, from the perspective of social and healthcare professionals, health needs and barriers faced among migrants who recently arrived in Spain when accessing the health system. To accomplish this aim, we carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study using a newly created self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 23.00® program. Survey collection was from April 2018 to October 2018, and the cohort comprised a total of 228 professionals. Most participants were females (76%), with an average age of 35 years [interquartile range (IQR) 29.8–43.0]. The most represented profession in the cohort was physician (48%), followed by social care professionals (32%), nursing (11%), and other (8%). Of these individuals, 61% stated having either little or limited knowledge of international migrant health rights, and 94% believed migrants must overcome barriers to receive health services. The four most reported barriers were as follows: language, cultural differences, administrative issues, and fear of being undocumented. Additionally, by order of importance, professionals viewed mental health disorders and infectious diseases as the most common contributors to disease burden in this group. The four most popular strategies implemented by professionals to improve healthcare access further for migrants included intercultural competency training for professionals; access to community health agents; access to translators; and development of health system navigation skills among those newly arrived. Study results suggest that governments should make greater efforts to provide social and healthcare professionals with more effective tools that overcome communication barriers and cultural competence training modules.

Obstetric service demand is the main health need of the Vietnamese population in Guangxi, China: A cross-sectional study

“…It has been reported that socioeconomic or work conditions may elevate migrants’ exposure to health risks, which is worse for women, especially those in an irregular administrative standing. [ 1 ] Taking into consideration the main clinic departments the patients visited and the main health problems they suffered, demand for obstetrician-related services contributed to the high percentage of female patients. The 4 provinces in northern Vietnam that border Guangxi are economically underdeveloped.…”

“…Migrants may face elevated health risks due to various new social determinants, such as socioeconomic or work conditions. [ 1 ] Health services are essential for their health maintenance. However, migrants’ access to health services may be compromised due to language barriers, cultural and religious differences, administrative issues, and discrimination from residents.…”

“…However, migrants’ access to health services may be compromised due to language barriers, cultural and religious differences, administrative issues, and discrimination from residents. [ 1 , 2 ] Since 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionally affected migrants’ health agenda globally due to excessively restrictive public health measures, suspension of asylum processes and resettlement, and border closures. [ 3 ] Therefore, migrants are more disadvantaged in terms of their health.…”

Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Irregular Migrant Women: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Data

“…Fear of deportation is also an obstacle for IMW seeking medical care; in countries like Sweden, clearer guidelines for healthcare professionals and IMW are needed [46]. Strategies for improving IMW's access to care include training professionals, giving IMW access to community volunteers and cultural mediators, and creating an open-door culture for accessing health care [47]. There is also a need to break down language barriers so that IMW can make medical appointments and avoid misunderstandings [10,18,24,35].…”

Editorial: The Impact of Migration and Resettlement on Health

“…For example, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark provide access to emergency services while Spain provides guaranteed healthcare to all residents and due to reporting requirements in other countries, migrants are dissuaded from accessing health care altogether ( 20 – 22 ). Serre-Delcor et al ( 23 ) examine the health needs and barriers experienced by migrants resettled in Spain when they attempt to access health services. The authors conducted a perception-based cross-sectional survey among social and healthcare professionals who provide care to recently arrived migrants and noted three key findings.…”