Cultural Consideration for Caring for Immigrants

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Refugees and Healthcare Access
Hispanic/Latino population
The Lost Boys of Sudan
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Regardless of their immigration status, all refugees and migrants have the right to healthcare, and countries must make sure that their requirements are met by health services. Refugees, however, frequently struggle to integrate and get appropriate healthcare in their new surroundings. Providing these groups with the high-quality healthcare they need is crucial to preserve the health of both immigrants and the communities they live in and foster social integration and socioeconomic growth. Thus, nurses and other medical professionals must pay close attention to all aspects, including cultural considerations and psychological support, while delivering healthcare to immigrants and the uninsured population in the US.

Refugees and Healthcare Access

The United States is a multinational country that has sheltered many refugees over the years. For instance, the United States adopted Lost Children from Sudan in the 2000s. Additionally, the number of Hispanics living in the US is growing annually. The stats show that there were 60.9 million Hispanics in the US in 2019 (Pew Research Center, 2020). California (4.9 million, mostly Mexican), Texas (2 million, mainly from Central America), and Florida (1.9 million migrants, most from the Caribbean) are the states with the highest concentrations of Hispanic residents (Pew Research Center, 2020). These migrants encounter many difficulties and frequently lack access to healthcare.

Hispanic/Latino population

Health-related problems encountered by the Poor and Uninsured Hispanic people

Being underweight is a common health problem among migrant Hispanic populations. The reason is the poor wages of the family members. Statistics show that 30.6% of non-elderly Hispanic population lives in poverty in 2020 (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2020). Poor Hispanic people struggle to be underweight and have vitamin and mineral shortages because they cannot afford high-quality, nutritious meals. Additionally, impoverished Hispanics may experience many other gastrointestinal issues because of a poor diet.

The mental health of immigrants from Latin America is another issue. Studies show that after coming to America, Latinos’ usage of illegal drugs increases (Martinez-Donate et al., 2020, p. 4). It can be a result of the widespread poverty and poor standard of living among Latinos. In addition, impoverished Hispanic immigrants frequently experience anxiety and depression (Martinez-Donate et al., 2020, p. 4). Problems with communication, a poor income, and a lack of future prospects are just a few of the numerous reasons that contribute to depression.

Research on the connection between health and international migration compares the prevalence of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious, and gastrointestinal pathology among migrants and local citizens in the country from which the migrants came. As a result, it was revealed that Hispanics are predisposed to obesity, diabetes, and liver and stomach cancer (Ramirez, n.d.). Such diseases might deteriorate in the poor conditions in which refugees reside in the United States, and the fatality rate rises owing to the lack of treatments.

Socio-Economic Factors that impact Healthcare Decision-Making of Hispanic people

Due to issues including racial or ethnic prejudice by service providers or the general public, language challenges, cultural differences, and subjective perceptions of health and sickness immigrants are particularly vulnerable to lack of access to healthcare in a foreign environment. The most significant risk factors include poverty, substandard housing, and unsafe, hard labor.

Hispanics with incomes below the poverty line and no health insurance experience most health problems. Refugees of the Hispanic population in the US are classified into three categories: legal immigrants with documents; unauthorized immigrants; and children of refugees who were born in the US. The general health of the refugees depends on which group they belong to. An immigrant who lacks documentation and permission cannot receive medical care. Moreover, illegal immigrants risk being deported if they visit a hospital (Tolbert et al., 2020). The fatality rate among Hispanic refugees is rising because medical treatment is limited. However, survey demonstrates that Hispanics, in contrast to White Americans, favor self-medicating over visiting a doctor (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018, p. 152). It suggests that Hispanic people choose to treat themselves than receive quality care in a hospital.

Cultural Diversity and the Implications for Nurses

The US is a country of many diverse nationalities and ethnicities. The treatment of patients is significantly influenced by their cultural traits. As a result, nurses need to be ready to handle patients of all ethnic backgrounds in a professional manner. First, the nurse must identify herself and her job to the patient (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018, p. 109). This includes the nurse’s introduction and any further communications with the patient. The patient must completely comprehend that the nurse’s role is to provide medical care. Second, the nurse must avoid miscommunications (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018, p. 109). For instance, if a nurse explains to a patient the diet they must now follow, the nurse must ensure that the patient understands everything and is not simply nodding in agreement. Third, the nurse should interact with the patient nonverbally to let them know they are being taken care of (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018, p. 109). All of these actions must be made to make sure the patient receives the most comfortable and efficient care possible.

Impact of Cultural Differences, Language Barriers, and Poverty on Healthcare Access

Unfortunately, it is often quite difficult to get medical care because of cultural differences and linguistic barriers. The first issue is the worry of discrimination and negligence on the part of medical staff. Researchers discovered that many Hispanics fear discrimination among the Hispanic populations interviewed at health institutions (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018, p. 109). Hispanics will probably avoid hospitals if they are treated with contempt by the medical community. The second issue is a lack of knowledge of Spanish or misunderstandings while speaking to Hispanics. Interviewees mentioned that nurses and physicians frequently believed that patients understood them even if Hispanics were not able to comprehend their English completely (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018, p. 109). Therefore, it is advisable to work with an interpreter if the nurse does not speak Spanish. Poverty is another issue that keeps Hispanics from accessing appropriate care. Many refugees lack legal status, while others cannot work in well-paying positions that would afford their health care and insurance. As a result, accessing healthcare is a challenge for Hispanic refugees.

The Lost Boys of Sudan

Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases of Sudan

Sudan is a country where violent political conflicts occurred not long ago. Children were in danger and had to leave the nation due to the civil war. Children who escaped Sudan and immigrated to other nations, particularly the United States, are known as the lost children of Sudan. The diseases that the children of Sudan experienced differed from those of American children because of the drastically different environments in which they lived. Malaria, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis are the illnesses that Sudanese migrants commonly carry (Charani et al., 2019, pp. 3-4). Therefore, nurses should exercise caution while working with people from Sudan. Obesity, diabetes, and cancer are Sudanese’ most common non-transmissible illnesses (Charani et al., 2019, pp. 5-6). In the case of the Lost Children of Sudan, they would probably have vitamin and mineral deficiencies and be underweight.

Sudanese Cultural Aspects Nurses should consider

In order to effectively treat patients from Sudan, nurses need to conduct cultural studies. Obviously, the language will become the main issue in Sudaneses’ healthcare. Therefore, the necessity for interpreters to collaborate with nurses is inevitable. The traditional circumcision of girls in Sudan is the next issue. It can startle the nurse if she is unfamiliar with it. In Sudan, female circumcision is customary and accepted. However, recalling the circumcision procedure might be painful for some individuals (Charani et al., 2019, p. 6). Additionally, many maternal disorders affecting women are linked to circumcision (Charani et al., 2019, p. 6). Furthermore, nurses should be mindful that the new surroundings might be a culture shock for many people in Sudan. Hence, nurses must act with consideration and empathy and treat patients well.

The Role of the Nurse in providing Resources for Sudanese people

Nurses greatly influence the Sudanese’s ability to adapt to the new circumstances. Sudanese boys who made it through the war spent much time traveling the globe in quest of safety. Children who experience such trauma often develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Nurses must be extremely careful when working with patients with a rough background. Building trust with patients is crucial since nurses spend considerable time with them. Before delivering a drug, the nurse must explain the purpose and how to take it. The nurse must first describe the examination’s goal and procedure if one needs to be performed on any equipment. Nurses should play the roles of caregivers to form a strong bond with a patient.

Conclusion

To conclude, healthcare is a right that all refugees and migrants have, regardless of their immigration status. Due to poverty, cultural differences, and language challenges, refugees cannot get high-quality healthcare. By giving these populations the high standard of healthcare they require, the health of immigrants and the communities in which they reside may be maintained. Medical professionals should treat refugees with respect and care because they are also individuals.

References

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2020). Research note: Number of people in families with below-poverty. Web.

Charani, E., Cunnington, A. J., & Yousif, A. (2019). In transition: current health challenges and priorities in Sudan.BMJ Global Health. Web.

Kersey-Matusiak, G. (2018). Delivering culturally competent nursing care: Working with diverse and vulnerable populations (2^nd ed.). Springer.

Martinez-Donate, A. P., Verdecias, N., Zhang, X., Jesús Eduardo, G. F., Asadi-Gonzalez, A. A., Guendelman, S., Amuedo-Dorantes, C., & Rangel, G. (2020). Health profile and health care access of Mexican migration flows traversing the Northern border of Mexico.Medical care, 58(5), 474–482. Web.

Pew Research Center. (2020). U.S. Hispanic population surpass 60 million in 2019, but growth has slowed. Web.

Ramirez, J. C. (n.d). Common Hispanic health issues. Northwestern medicine. Web.

Tolbert, J., & Damico, A. (2020). Key facts about the uninsured population. Kaiser Family Foundation. Web.

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