Unequal Access and Use of Health Care Services among Settled Immigrants, Recent Immigrants, and Locals: A Comparative Analysis of a Nationally Representative Survey in Chile

Gender differences in life expectancy free of depressive symptoms in Chile between 2003 and 2016

The aim of the study was to analyze gender differences in life expectancy free of depressive symptoms among the adult population in Chile between 2003 and 2016. The Sullivan method was used to estimate the total and marginal life expectancy, based on prevalence data from the National Health Survey (2003, 2010 and 2016), and abridged life tables for the Chilean population. There was a compression of morbidity among middle-aged men during the first period and among younger and older women during the last one. Men at all ages could expect to live a higher proportion of their lives without depressive symptoms during the whole period. The gender gap in the proportion of life expectancy free of depressive symptoms reached 10 percent points or more, considering almost all ages and periods. Unemployment and lower education increased the probability of depressive symptoms, and these effects were more marked among women. Public policies should have a gender-sensitive approach to address the gap in depression and the disadvantage experienced by women in life expectancy free of depressive symptoms, considering those dimensions that intersect with gender, such as access to education, employment or income.

Challenges for the prevention of hypertension among international migrants in Latin America: prioritizing the health of migrants in healthcare systems

Among the health priorities of international migrants, non-communicable diseases such as hypertension are of major interest due to their increasing prevalence, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. Previous evidence has reported a significant risk of hypertension in international migrants derived from multiple exposures during the migration process and at the destination, such as living conditions, health literacy and access to preventive services. Also, poorer disease control has been found compared to the local population. Considering existing deficiencies in access and use of healthcare services related to hypertension prevention and continuity of care of migrants globally, we aimed to offer a Latin American perspective of the challenges faced by international migrants residing in Latin America in accessing hypertension preventive care from a human rights, equity, and universal primary healthcare approaches. From a health systems perspective, we conducted a scoping review of scientific literature on hypertension prevention and control among international migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. Based on the findings, we discuss the potential influence of migration and health policies on healthcare systems and individual and structural barriers to healthcare access, including lack of insurance, linguistic barriers, limited intercultural competence, and geographical and financial barriers. From existing evidence related to hypertension, we highlight the particular healthcare needs of migrants and their implications for regional public health goals. This aligns with promoting culturally tailored interventions considering the migration process, lifestyle patterns, structural vulnerabilities, and gender particularities in hypertension prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We advocate for developing universal, voluntary, and systemic regional screening and disease control initiatives in Latin America for hypertension and other chronic conditions.

Negotiating precarity: Recent immigrants' perceptions of waiting for public healthcare in Ontario, Canada

Canada is widely known for its universal publicly funded health care system. While its health care system is an important part of Canadian identity, recent immigrants living in some provinces and territories are not covered by the publicly funded healthcare system until they have met a minimum residency requirement. This article seeks to understand the multiple manifestations of financial and emotional precarity that recent immigrants face as they navigate a lack of access to health care during their first three months of arrival in Ontario. This paper draws on qualitative semi-structured interview data from 46 recent immigrants who came from 12 different countries and had been living in Ontario, Canada. We found that the wait period to obtain health care often added to the prohibitive costs associated with immigration and settlement. During the wait period, recent immigrants faced financial burdens and their inability to access publicly funded hospitals and medical services when needed which resulted in feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, and emotional hardship. Given the financial and emotional precarities faced by recent immigrants during the wait period, we argue that the Canadian 'universal' healthcare system excludes and creates barriers to timely and equitable access to healthcare services for recent immigrants. We recommend to permanently eliminate the wait period policy to ensure the health and wellbeing of recent immigrants.