Health equity during COVID-19: A qualitative study on the consequences of the syndemic on refugees’ and asylum seekers’ health in reception centres in Bologna (Italy)
| Autor: | L Mammana, Delia Da Mosto, Giulia Gherardi, Chiara Francesca Bodini, Mattia Quargnolo, Maria Pia Fantini |
|---|---|
| Přispěvatelé: | Da Mosto, Delia, Bodini, Chiara, Mammana, Leonardo, Gherardi, Giulia, Quargnolo, Mattia, Fantini, Maria Pia |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Economic growth Refugee migrant health inequalities access to services COVID-19 public health discrimination Article Risk communication Social determinants of health Syndemic Political science JV1-9480 Health care medicine Health equity business.industry Public health COVID-19 Health promotion Reception centres Health education Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration business |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Migration and Health Journal of Migration and Health, Vol 4, Iss, Pp 100057-(2021) |
| ISSN: | 2666-6235 |
| Popis: | Background: It is well documented that migrants are among the most disadvantaged population groups in Europe. The diffusion of Sars-CoV-2 and the introduction of confinement measures increased the complexity of the dynamic relationship between migration and health, creating extra challenges for the well-being of migrants, including those living in reception centres. This study analyzes the measures implemented in reception facilities in Bologna, one of the cities with the highest number of migrants in Italy, during the first COVID-19 wave, and evaluates the impact of the syndemic on the health of refugees and asylum seekers, with the aim of supporting evidence-based policy-making to meet the health needs of both migrant and host populations. Methods: This qualitative study was based on semi-structured interviews with social workers, volunteers and medical professionals involved in providing assistance to refugees and asylum seekers living in reception centres. Between April and September 2020, after a period of observation, key-informants were selected through a snowball sampling process for a total of 25 interviews. The interviewees covered different services that were critical in the management of the COVID-19 epidemic in Bologna. The interview guide explored: 1) the consequences of COVID-19 on the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers living in reception centres;2) the measures implemented to contrast the diffusion of the epidemic;3) the challenges that interviewees had in handling the emergency;and 4) the role of health education as a tool for health promotion, in general and during the epidemic. After transcription, the interviews were analyzed using deductive and inductive approaches. Results: All 25 selected key-informants agreed to participate in the study. When the epidemic began in Italy, reception centres introduced confinement measures, which were followed by the supply of personal protective equipment, the implementation of specific governance tools and the production of risk communication programmes. However, these actions often failed in considering the social and psychological impact of the emergency. This, together with the dramatic consequences of the syndemic, affected all the determinants that shape the health profile of residents of reception centres, exacerbating their condition of disadvantage. Conclusions: This analysis revealed a number of specific structural issues that characterize the healthcare services for refugees and asylum seekers, which are often entrenched in a biomedical approach to health. It also highlighted the prevailing view that most local, regional and national institutions have towards migration, not yet considered as a structural component of our society and therefore addressed through short-term emergency interventions. Nevertheless, the analysis gave useful insights for the planning of future risk communication campaigns and system adaptations. In order to guarantee the right to health and to promote the well-being of the entire community, it is necessary to introduce changes in the social, health and legal system that shapes migrants' experience in Italy. These changes should follow principles of equity and inclusivity, with the purpose of guaranteeing a better management of future pandemics and the conditions for the empowerment of refugees and asylum seekers. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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