Mobilizing Care for an Immigrant Population

Individuals from many countries, and origins with various perspectives, make up the refugee and immigrant populations. People who have just arrived as refugees or immigrants may have significant health differences. Lack of health insurance, hurdles to accessing adequate treatment, employment circumstances, education, and salary and economic discrepancies may all contribute to these differences. Immigrant and refugee populations and their communities are protected by promoting health equality (CDC, 2021).

The Rationale for the Chosen Undocumented Immigrant or Refugee

Many people have migrated in search of better lives or several times safety concerns. Refugees and Immigrants have had several encounters in their own countries or while traveling or other natural consequences, which can leave various mental and physical health issues. These circumstances may make refugees and immigrants more susceptible to diseases and chronic illnesses (World Health Organization, 2022).

Living conditions also play a crucial role because they are not provided with the best living conditions despite being welcomed into a country. Such as living in unhygienic conditions, with untreated water to drink, and several people living together can lead to cause spread of chronic or acute illnesses.

NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care for an Immigrant Population

Given the circumstances, the defined policies have also not been very catering, as only allows refugees and immigrants who have stayed in America for five years, where they have legally entered or are holders of a green card, can only be eligible with a limit (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020).

The Rationale for Somali Refugees

The United States of America is home to many refugees, particularly many Somali refugees. Mass migration of Somalis has occurred across the globe due to the prolonged ongoing war, which has caused harm and raised many problems for Somalis, like severe starvation, unfair allocation of relief, and dismal economic prospects. Given that they had to move to the US, they face many issues like language barriers, no job opportunities, and many Americans not accepting them, which has negatively affected their access to health care. Many live in terrible conditions, making them susceptible to contagious diseases and causing various health problems.

Somali Refugees Demographics

The Federal Republic of Somalia is situated in Eastern Africa. Along with the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, Somalia has borders with Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Despite having a predominantly sterile environment, rains occur in some areas of Somalia. Frequent severe droughts, dust storms, with floods throughout the monsoon season are all common occurrences throughout the nation. The highest influx of Somali refugees arrived in Minnesota and New York, followed by Texas. Several Somali refugees move to areas where Somali populations are already organized.  More than 47,000 Somali refugees came to the U. S. between 2010 and 2016, with the overwhelming number of individuals being under the age of 45 (CDC, 2019).

Assessing The Health Care Needs of the Chosen Population

A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) assessment in medicine is frequently employed as the foundation for organizational planning. It assists one in determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the medical profession using statistical and subjective data. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) assessment in medicine is frequently employed as the foundation for organizational planning. It assists one in determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the medical profession using statistical and subjective data.

There is no right way to collect statistics and execute a SWOT analysis. The procedure is significantly impacted by the scale of the medical organization, the regularity of strategy discussions, and shifting market conditions. A SWOT analysis is crucial for healthcare professionals because it might very well show the opportunities people can take advantage of, flaws you can address, and dangers you might have missed (Sequence Health, 2022).

Even if the increasing crime rate or fall of the economy is due to refugees and immigrants, the government cannot officially block their entrance of them into the United States. Restrictions on Immigration and walls only fuel up the entire situation, which can lead to more severe consequences. Hence, it is essential for governments to instead focus on improving their living standards and supporting them as much as they can, which could automatically influence the crime rate and improve the economy (Suárez-Orozco & Suárez-Orozco, 2018).

SWOT Analysis for Somali Refugees

To provide a SWOT analysis for Somali Refugees for medicine, it is essential to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with Somalis when accessing healthcare facilities. Both internal and external aspects are included in the SWOT analysis, which the organization may influence. Utilizing the strengths to the greatest extent while managing the weaknesses and neutralizing threats, SWOT analysis enables the selection of these variables and associated integration. In light of the Somali refugees’ intrinsic deficiencies and their significant strengths, local NGOs can put socioeconomic security measures in place to help them with their healthcare. The merits of local NGOs comprise their adherence to international laws, including individual rights, the presence of medical and security assistance with clearly defined eligibility requirements for which refugees may apply anywhere at a time, and a brief review phase.

Nongovernmental Organizations can offer various options to improve their activities’ success when providing healthcare to help the Somali refugees overcome the deleterious repercussions. These included soliciting funds from the state and donations from the citizens, establishing partnerships with corporate and governmental organizations, and growing the workforce through the influx of community service groups. NGOs will still be threatened by other factors, including the likely spike in the number of refugees from the escalating crisis in several African nations and the cultural and linguistic barriers between Somali refugees and NGOs’ staff (Taffa Abdoul-Azize, 2022).

Identifying The Organizations and Stakeholders

The government needs to provide for refugees and immigrants to improve their healthcare facilities while providing them with adequate laws and regulations because healthcare is among the fundamental human rights as the government’s initiative to waive the 5-year limitation for children and women who are pregnant to gain their insurance (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020). Similarly, several NGOs operating on a global scale should actively participate in the betterment to provide for refugees and immigrants. Such as, WHO started a program in 2020 known as Health and Migration Programme, which claimed that refugees and immigrants have human rights to healthcare and all nations around the globe must abide by it (World Health Organization, 2022).

Chosen Population

With over 53% of migrants coming from Latin America, 25% from Asia, and 14% from Europe, the US is home to the most enormous most significant foreign migrants compared to the entire world (International Organization for Migration, 2015).  The number of refugees and immigrants worldwide is also increasing exponentially, with 89.3 million as an estimated number. Approximately 36.5 million (41%) of the 89.3 million individuals are youngsters under 18—74% of the world’s refugees (UNHCR, 2021). Similarly, individuals who seek refugee status reside in underdeveloped nations, where 22% of the total are granted refuge by the least developed nations (UNHCR, 2021). At the same time, the original residents earn more than the refugees and immigrants, where the difference adds up to approximately $9270 annually. 

Current Policies for Providing Health Care to Immigrants and Refugees

When they are granted entry into the country, refugees or immigrants receive admittance to:

• Medicaid, 
• the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), 
• Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA),
• the Health Insurance Marketplace. (ACOG, n.d.).

Immigrants who are in the country legally are eligible for Medicaid as well as CHIP. Generally, permanent legal citizens or “green card” bearers have to wait half a decade following attaining qualifying status before their enrollment in Medicaid or CHIP. Governments may waive the five-year waiting period for adolescents and pregnant women to offer insurance to legitimately existing immigrants despite qualifying conditions. Most states have chosen this option for January 2022 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020). 

NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care for an Immigrant Population

Immigrants who are legally in the United States may be able to receive subsidies while purchasing insurance via the ACA Marketplaces. Those without access to forms of insurance who earn between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) may qualify for these subsidies (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020).

Assumptions and biases associated with a particular immigrant or refugee

Prejudices affect how we perceive our surroundings and think, including what we witness. Generalizations, stereotypes, and perceptions of particular social groupings influence several of our prejudices. There are several stereotypes, like immigrants bringing crime and terror into the USA, becoming an economic burden to society, and many more. 

People dread immigrants because they impair social cohesiveness, erode cultural norms, segregate themselves, exacerbate economic problems, and harbor hostility and terrorism. According to a recent study, 34% of American citizens believe that immigrants are lowering economic and ethical standards within the country (Suárez-Orozco & Suárez-Orozco, 2018).

Assumptions and Biasness Associated with Somali Refugees

Somali Refugees belonging to Africa share a dark complexion, with a muscular build, hence several times, the citizen of the U.S hold prejudice against them; the most appropriate word would be racism, assuming worse that they are thieves or are the reason why crime rates are increasing in the areas where there is a vast population of Somali refugees. They are sometimes treated as illiterate and uneducated because they speak the Somali language and are not well-conversed in English. Due to this, they cannot access or demand medical facilities (Warsame, n.d.).

Influence Of Cultural and Linguistic Differences on Access to Care

Patients from heterogeneous cultures and languages encounter various obstacles, like communicational challenges, regulatory constraints, or disparities in medical views, and thus use medical services relatively less frequently than the hosting communities. The provision of adequate healthcare, ensuring the safety of patients, and reaching significant satisfaction between clinical staff and patients are all hampered by language problems. Several more extensive medical facilities offer translators to solve these issues and boost interaction, patient engagement, and access to health care. Unfortunately, these offerings increase the price and length of the therapy. 

As per research conducted by Al Shamsi, they used the PubMed and Medline databases and found the effects of language barriers in healthcare. Fourteen studies that matched the criteria for inclusion were included. Although most of this research originated in the United States, it was carried out in several countries around the globe.  There were 300 918 individuals throughout the 14 trials. Uneven access to healthcare and disparate health outcomes are linked to health inequalities, such as differential treatment due to linguistic limitations (Al Shamsi et al., 2020).

The U.S. Health Care Policies, National Initiatives, Pieces of Legislation 

The most recent measures to aid immigrants and refugees were implemented in 2017. New regulations were approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) in a resolution intended to safeguard and enhance the healthcare of immigrants and refugees in the country. The AMA is against family immigration detention, separating children from their parents or guardians, and intentions to build additional detention facilities. 

The detention facilities operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have inadequate availability of high-quality medical assistance. However, they have also been unable to stop human rights violations and living circumstances. The American Medical Association (AMA) responded by adopting a policy urging ICE detainment authorities to update the medical conditions at detention facilities to comply with those established by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (American Medical Association, n.d.).

Stakeholders and Organizations Catering Somali Refugees

UNHCR has taken several initiatives to cater to the medical need and healthcare provision of the Somali Refugees; they have raised several donations for this purpose. UNHCR is putting forth every effort to facilitate refugees as well as people who have been made homeless in and from Somalia by offering safety and security assistance but also reinforcing, guaranteeing that they have sufficient health care, creating a safe environment and legal help, and by preventing child and women (UNHCR, n.d.).

Similarly, World Health Organization has taken several initiatives to promote healthcare. WHO offers assistance and legislative proposals to health authorities. Building a bridge between humanitarian and development contexts is also needed to foster resilience and aid Somalia’s health system in recovering (World Health Organization, n.d.).

Conclusion

Refugees and Immigrants do face a lot of discrimination and barriers like communicational barriers, language barriers, and at times cultural barriers. These barriers become a considerable hurdle when receiving healthcare and medical assistance. Several Policies and laws are also implemented to provide satisfactory treatment and therapies. The United States has also taken several initiatives to cater to refugees and immigrants to ensure they are served properly and efficiently. AMA stands among those organizations serving humanity, not just Americans but refugees and immigrants. 

References

ACOG. (n.d.). Health care coverage for refugees and immigrants. Www.acog.org. https://www.acog.org/practice-management/payment-resources/health-care-coverage-for-refugees-and-immigrants

Al Shamsi, H., Almutairi, A. G., Al Mashrafi, S., & Al Kalbani, T. (2020). Implications of language barriers for healthcare: A systematic review. Oman Medical Journal, 35(2). https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2020.40

American Medical Association. (n.d.). AMA adopts new policies to improve the health of immigrants and refugees. Retrieved, 2022, from https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-adopts-new-policies-improve-health-immigrants-and-refugees

CDC. (2019, March 8). Somali | refugee health profiles | immigrant and refugee health | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/profiles/somali/index.html

CDC. (2021, March 24). About immigrant, refugee, and migrant health | immigrant and refugee health. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/about-irmh.html

International Organization for Migration. (2015, February 4). United States of America. https://www.iom.int/countries/united-states-america

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2020, March 18). Health coverage of immigrants. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/fact-sheet/health-coverage-of-immigrants/

Sequence Health. (2022, July 9). Swot Analysis in Healthcare: what is it & how to use it correctly. https://www.sequencehealth.com/blog/how-to-use-swot-analysis-in-healthcare-steps-and-strategies

Suárez-Orozco, C., & Suárez-Orozco, M. (2018, December 7). What are the predominant stereotypes about immigrants today? – Re-imagining migration. Re-Imagining Migration. https://reimaginingmigration.org/what-are-the-predominant-stereotypes-about-immigrants-today/

NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care for an Immigrant Population

Taffa Abdoul-Azize, H. (2022). Turkish local NGOs social protection programs for the refugees during the covid-19 crisis: a swot analysis. 19(1), 7922. https://www.webology.org/data-cms/articles/20220516111221amwebology%2019%20(1)%20-%20154%20pdf.pdf

UNHCR. (n.d.). Please help us protect Somali refugees. Donation Refugees UNHCR. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://donate.unhcr.org/be/en-be/somalia-emergency

UNHCR. (2021, November 10). UNHCR – Refugee Statistics. UNHCR. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/

Warsame, A. (n.d.). Ethnic prejudice and discrimination of the Somali minority groups -the image of the other as an enemy. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1465450/FULLTEXT01.pdf

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Somalia crisis. https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/somalia-crisis

World Health Organization. (2022, May 2). Refugee and migrant health. Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/refugee-and-migrant-health