Surviving violent, traumatic loss after severe political persecution: lessons from the evaluation of a Venezuelan asylum seeker

Factors Affecting Diasporic Women's Quality of Life: A Systematic Review

Objective

This literature review assesses the factors that influence the quality of life of migrant women in the diasporic with the goal of improving their quality of life and creating more supportive social adjustment in the public health field.

Methods

The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched the databases of Scopus, PubMed, SAGE journal, Springer, and Google Scholar for scientific articles on the quality of life of diasporic and migrant women. We screened and removed duplicates, analyzed the full text of the articles to identify potentially relevant studies, and extracted data from matched articles.

Results

The literature search yielded 34 articles. Only 10 articles that met all inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review after peer review.

Conclusion

The literature shows that the quality of life of diasporic women is influenced by four main factors: sociodemographic predictors, social adjustment predictors, health-related predictors, and psychological predictors. Identifying them is important to improve quality of life and find the right solutions to improve the quality of life of marginalized groups in society. To improve the quality of life for diasporic women, I suggest implementing government policies such as language education, vocational training, stronger protection laws, and better healthcare access. Additionally, establishing cultural exchange and networking programs is crucial for fostering cultural understanding.

Barriers to healthcare for Venezuelan migrants: physicians' perspective

Purpose

Increased migration to small island developing states poses major challenges on receiving countries' healthcare systems. Due to public health policy on treating migrants in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuelan migrants are experiencing less than optimal care. This paper examines the retrospective accounts of physicians treating Venezuelan migrants with limited access to healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten in depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians working in primary healthcare and emergency departments about their clinical decision-making process in providing care for Venezuelan migrants. A narrative approach was used to highlight the personal experiences of participants. Participants were recruited by their response to an online advertisement on social media (i.e. Facebook and Instagram) and via email invitations. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using NVIVO-12 software.

Findings

Findings revealed language barriers between Venezuelan migrants and Trinidad and Tobago-based physicians hindered providing optimal care coordination. Physicians indicated the use of a translator app to bridge the service gap but questioned their ethics. Participants noted tensions between junior and senior physicians regarding referrals of Venezuelan migrants to outpatient care. The data suggests physicians' felt constrained providing additional services such as primary care due to the Provision of Public Healthcare Services Policy which forbids primary care services to migrants.

Originality/value

Sparse research on the barriers to accessing healthcare for Venezuelan migrants residing in the small island states.