Health condition, income loss, food insecurity and other social inequities among migrants and refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Abstract

Background Brazil is the destination of many international migrants and refugees and, given the circumstances of their entry into the country, many face difficulties due to the absence of targeted policies. Thus, the objective of this study was to survey the social impact of COVID-19 on international migrants and refugees regarding income loss, food insecurity and other social inequities, and to identify explanatory factors on these aspects. Methods This is a cross-sectional, analytical study. We used a validated instrument applied by trained interviewers. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with income loss and food insecurity. Results A total of 360 individuals from sub-Saharan African and South American countries participated in the study. Individuals who were white, black/brown, yellow, had an occupation/employment, and earned less than one minimum wage were more likely to lose income. Those who reported no income, received less than one minimum wage, and were diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to be food insecure. Conclusions The study advances knowledge by identifying factors associated with income loss, food insecurity, and individuals' difficulty in accessing health services and social support measures in Brazil.

Experiences of male irregular migrants during their migration process and reception in Spain: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Migrant women, in particular, fled a culture of exploitation and gender-based violence in their countries of origin (48). COVID-19 worsened the pre-existing conditions of the most vulnerable population groups, and exacerbated inequality and marginalization (21). Consistent with other studies, MIMs faced specific challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic (49).…”

“…This study has highlighted the fragile health systems in the countries of origin, poor health coverage and the shortage of beds for COVID-19 patients (52,53). The results have shown that many MIMs were working in informal sectors incompatible with the remote work encouraged by the confinement measures (21). The imposition of movement restrictions meant that the MIMs lost jobs and therefore income (54).…”

“…IMs lacked sufficient resources to be able to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic (18,19). Their legal status was an obstacle to accessing regularized employment or state benefits (20), thus increasing their exposure to the virus (21,22). They also had poor living conditions (23), which made it impossible to comply with virus prevention measures (24).…”

Agudização das iniquidades sociais em tempo de pandemia: Revisão sistemática

“…O desemprego e queda dos salários decorrentes das novas adaptações causadas pelo isolamento são dois problemas que incentivam a população e seus respectivos governos a considerar medidas de transição para livre circulação 70% da população brasileira depende exclusivamente do SUS, tendo ações voltadas para a promoção, a prevenção e a assistência à saúde (Frenk & Moon, 2013). Durante a pandemia ocorreu uma sobrecarga destes serviços, aumentando o gasto público ao ponto de não haver medicamentos e equipamentos, além de faltar profissionais, tendo como única saída a realocação de recursos, ou seja, transferir do setor menos afetado para o mais afetado (Moura et al, 2023).…”