From the Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (JAS, JDB, DTB); Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment (CMHRT), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (JAS, DTB); Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (JDB, MB, MS); Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (SS).
J Am Board Fam Med. 2021 Feb;34(Suppl):S210-S216. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.S1.200115.
Certain members of society are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis and the added strain being placed on already overextended health care systems. In this article, we focus on refugee newcomers. We outline vulnerabilities refugee newcomers face in the context of COVID-19, including barriers to accessing health care services, disproportionate rates of mental health concerns, financial constraints, racism, and higher likelihoods of living in relatively higher density and multigenerational dwellings. In addition, we describe the response to COVID-19 by a community-based refugee primary health center in Ontario, Canada. This includes how the clinic has initially responded to the crisis as well as recommendations for providing services to refugee newcomers as the COVID-19 crisis evolves. Recommendations include the following actions: (1) consider social determinants of health in the new context of COVID-19; (2) provide services through a trauma-informed lens; (3) increase focus on continuity of health and mental health care; (4) mobilize International Medical Graduates for triaging patients based on COVID-19 symptoms; and (5) diversify communication efforts to educate refugees about COVID-19.
某些社会成员受到 COVID-19 危机和已经过度紧张的医疗保健系统的额外压力的不成比例的影响。在本文中，我们重点关注难民新移民。我们概述了难民新移民在 COVID-19 背景下面临的脆弱性，包括获得医疗服务的障碍、心理健康问题的不成比例的发生率、经济限制、种族主义以及更有可能生活在相对较高密度和多代同堂的住所。此外，我们描述了加拿大安大略省一家以社区为基础的难民初级保健中心对 COVID-19 的反应。这包括该诊所如何应对危机，以及随着 COVID-19 危机的发展，为难民新移民提供服务的建议。建议包括以下行动：（1）在 COVID-19 的新背景下考虑健康的社会决定因素；（2）通过创伤知情视角提供服务；（3）更加关注医疗保健和心理健康服务的连续性；（4）动员国际医学毕业生根据 COVID-19 症状对患者进行分诊；（5）多样化沟通努力，教育难民了解 COVID-19。
