Resources and vulnerabilities of migrant communities in Chile during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Objective To know, in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the psychosocial and socioeconomic vulnerabilities experienced by the international migrant population in Chile, as well as the resources and social capital reported from the community itself and its support networks, and to analyze the reception and implementation of the measures recommended by the health authorities in the different stages of the pandemic in the country. Methods Descriptive qualitative study. The information was collected through 40 semi-structured individual interviews with migrants (N=30) and key informants (N=10), carried out through online communication platforms during 2020. A thematic analysis of the material was carried out. The project was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad del Desarrollo. Results The main vulnerabilities experienced by migrants in the context of the pandemic include overcrowding, job insecurity and economic needs, use of public transport, misinformation and beliefs about COVID-19, experiences of discrimination and xenophobia, lack of support networks, and migratory status. The main resources are support networks, the possibility of working remotely or going out to work, access to information, access to the assistance and municipal network, and government support and civil society. In addition, experiences of diagnosis of COVID-19 are reported, identifying difficulties in accessing PCR testing, and family and work adaptations such as changes in lifestyle habits inside and outside the home. Discussion The study provides relevant and unpublished information for the construction of health policies for international migrants with a focus on sanitary crises. It highlights the need to strengthen cross-cultural strategies for the prevention of infection and health promotion, and to improve access to health in the context of the pandemic and beyond, thereby mitigating the social vulnerability experienced by migrants and enhancing their coping resources. © 2022, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.

Migrations and COVID-19: when the securitist discourse threatens the right to health

This article analyzes the coexistence and relationship between two approaches that the State has maintained towards the migrant population in Chile during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The first one arises from the universal Human Rights approach that has guided the advances in the access to the health system for the migrant population. The second one, arises from an exclusionary approach developed by the national security perspective, with a strong focus on the control of irregular migration. At a first glance, both approaches may seem opposite, but the truth is that they have been applied simultaneously, although with variations in intensity according to the political context. Based on previous work carried out by the researchers, we will analyze how both approaches have impacted the Venezuelan population in the country. We will focus on the Venezuelan case since today it represents 30% of the foreign population and because it has been one of the focuses of the measures implemented by the government in the last year.