Healthcare Inequities and Differential Access to Healthcare among Migrant Communities during COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of New Immigrants and Refugee Groups in Minnesota

Keywords: Healthcare Inequities, Access and Utilization of Care, Migrant/Immigrant Communities, COVID-19 Pandemic
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 2

Abstract

The ways in which the share of burden of the COVID-19 pandemic is continued to be borne disproportionately by migrant communities globally, add further to our understanding of persistent health and healthcare inequities among marginalized and vulnerable groups historically and at the systemic and interpersonal levels. Emerging data and research in the US show how migrants in general, recent immigrants, refugee groups, and racial minorities, particularly seasonal or temporary work visa holders, undocumented migrants, and asylum seekers, have had differential or limited access to quality health care (testing , vaccination, and hospitalization) and have experienced heightened occupational health risks during the ongoing pandemic. These health vulnerabilities are also compounded by place specific political and social marginalization that migrant/immigrants/refugees face along with the lack of adequate socio-economic and cultural resources and well-rounded public welfare measures needed to access and utilize available care. Drawing insights from an ongoing research project this paper examines COVID-19 related healthcare experiences of immigrant communities in Minnesota in the light of emerging data and literature on health inequities among marginalized communities in general and migrant communities in particular during the pandemic, globally.