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

In parallel to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chile has experienced a significant influx of international migrants, many of whom are Venezuelan women who have entered the country through unauthorized crossing points. In this context, gender and migration intersect as the social determinants of health, leading to their experiencing a range of adverse events. This poses important challenges in terms of short- and long-term health outcomes, the social determinants of health, and access to healthcare. This study aims at describing Venezuelan women’s perceptions of their health needs as they migrate to Chile via an unauthorized crossing point, with a focus on adverse events throughout the migration cycle, self-reported health needs, and responses. A qualitative case study was carried out with 22 participants in the Antofagasta region of Chile, including Venezuelan migrant women, healthcare professionals, and social workers from the public healthcare system, stakeholders from non-governmental and international organizations, and local government officials. The semi-structured, individual interviews were analyzed thematically. The results show that Venezuelan women face a range of adverse events throughout the migration cycle. The perceived health needs that are reported are sometimes linked to these adverse events or existed prior to migration and were exacerbated throughout the migratory cycle. Addressing these physical and mental health needs is essential for short- and long-term individual and public health; however, despite substantial efforts to ameliorate the situation, persisting gaps in access to care are reported.

Cite this document

Blukacz, A., Carreño Calderon, A., Obach, A., Cabieses, B., Peroncini, J., & Oliva, A. (2022). Perceptions of health needs among venezuelan women crossing the border in northern chile during the covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15175. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215175

Project(s)

Living and health trajectories of international migrants to Chile: how do they compare to the locals and what are their related costs to the healthcare system?

INFANCIA Y FRONTERA: EXPERIENCIAS DE MOVILIDAD, SALUD Y CUIDADO DE NIÑOS, NIÑAS Y ADOLESCENTES (NNA) QUE HAN ATRAVESADO LA FRONTERA NORTE DE CHILE POR PASO NO HABILITADO EN CONTEXTO DE CRISIS SANITARIA

Generando capacidades para el encuentro intercultural en equipos de salud, con foco en población migrante internacional en Chile

Subjects

inequities

;

international migration

;

women’s health

;

chile

;

covid-19

;

female

;

health personnel

;

humans

;

pandemics

;

transients and migrants

;

chile

;

covid-19

;

international migration

;

mental health

;

perception

;

womens health

;

adolescent

;

adult

;

adverse event

;

article

;

case study

;

child

;

chile

;

clinical article

;

coronavirus disease 2019

;

female

;

government employee

;

health care need

;

health care personnel

;

health care system

;

human

;

international organization

;

male

;

mental health

;

migration

;

needs assessment

;

non-governmental organization

;

outcome assessment

;

pandemic

;

perception

;

public health service

;

qualitative research

;

semi structured interview

;

social determinants of health

;

social worker

;

venezuelan

;

women's health

;

chile

;

epidemiology

;

pandemic

;

psychology