Experiences of Providers and Immigrants/Refugees with Health Care: A Meta-Synthesis of the Latin American Context

Abstract

Introduction The experiences of providers and immigrants/refugees related to healthcare in the Latin American context have not yet been aggregated. This study aimed to synthesize the qualitative evidence on this theme. Method A systematic review of qualitative evidence with meta-synthesis. After identification, eligible studies were evaluated for methodological quality, and information was systematically analyzed. Results The sample comprised 26 articles. The meta-theme shows that the experiences of providers and immigrants/refugees are determined by multilevel factors. In a macro-context, these factors involve the vulnerabilities of immigrants/refugees and the healthcare system/model, and in a closer context, they involve the lack of professional training in cultural skills and communication; language barriers; and prejudice/xenophobia. Within healthcare, the relationship is mostly conflictual, asymmetric, and unable to solve problems, leading to negative repercussions for both. Conclusions Managers involved in developing public policies and providers must consider improving the interrelationship between healthcare services and the migrant population.

Challenges of nursing research with immigrant and refugee populations: methodological and pragmatic considerations

“…They are able to understand not only the worldviews ( 7 ) of the participant group, but also the personal biases that researchers bring when interpreting different cultures. This way, the presence of mediators is relevant to resolve possible tensions felt between immigrants under investigation and researchers, which has the potential to promote a situation of exchange, sharing, and means of interpretation between subjects ( 6 ) .…”

“…Furthermore, they face linguistic, cultural, social, political, and economic barriers – which result in greater morbidity and mortality – making immigrants and refugees over-reliant on social assistance and health services ( 4 ) . However, when seeking health services, they are faced with weaknesses in assistance that do not take the specific needs for culturally sensitive care into account ( 5 , 6 ) .…”

Desafios da pesquisa em enfermagem com populações imigrantes e refugiadas: considerações metodológicas e pragmáticas

“…Eles são capazes de entender não apenas as visões de mundo (7) do grupo participante, mas também os preconceitos pessoais que os pesquisadores trazem para interpretar as diferentes culturas. Desse modo, a presença dos mediadores é relevante para sanar as possíveis tensões sentidas entre os imigrantes em investigação e os pesquisadores, o que tem potencial para promover uma situação de intercâmbio, compartilhamento e meios de interpretação entre os sujeitos (6) .…”

“…Além disso, enfrentam barreiras linguísticas, culturais, sociais, políticas e econômicasque repercutem em maior morbidade e mortalidade -fazendo com que imigrantes e refugiados necessitem mais dos serviços de assistência social e de saúde (4) . Contudo, ao buscar os serviços de saúde, deparam-se com fragilidades na assistência que não levam em consideração as necessidades específicas para um cuidado culturalmente sensível (5,6) .…”