COVID-19 Contagion among Communities with Limited English Proficiency: Lesson from Volunteerism

The COVID-19 affects all communities in the United States, but its impact differs from one community to another. Undoubtedly, the vulnerable populations are more impacted than others, especially refugees and immigrants. This study seeks to understand the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities and the need to communicate health-related information equally. A lesson learned from observation during an ongoing pandemic, including what I learned through my volunteer work between mid-March and August 2020. The study finds that neighbors with limited English Proficiency (LEP) and limited education could quickly transfer the COVID-19 virus to another neighbor with high income and well-educated. Disparities in access to care and underlying causes among LEP communities may lead to spreading the virus. Making health information available in different languages and more TV channels and radios that disseminate COVID-19 information in multiple languages is essential. It is imperative for public health during the resiliency process to thoroughly prepare and consider vulnerable communities’ health and need to legislate proper health communication and education for all for any possible pandemic in the future

Serving Refugees in a Pandemic: Insights from Yazidis in the Midwest

There is a critical need for research to examine factors that hinder or facilitate access to healthcare in the context of COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated barriers to healthcare for marginalized communities globally, leaving many without access to needed health services. Resettled refugees, in particular, must grapple with added challenges to locating and obtaining culturally appropriate healthcare services. Recent focus groups shed light on the experiences of Yazidi refugees in the U.S. Midwest during COVID-19. Yazidis are a historically persecuted religious and ethnic minority group from northern Iraq (Kizilhan, 2017). Many Yazidis migrated to the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas after providing interpretation services for the U.S. Army. Focus groups reflected diverse perspectives from health care providers, social workers, Yazidi community members, and cultural centers. Findings reveal four critical areas that limit access to healthcare: (1) language barriers; (2) economic barriers; (3) social barriers; and (4) cultural stigma. In this commentary, we explore how these barriers contribute to adverse health experiences and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and offer insights relevant to public health practice with marginalized communities

Roadblocks to Accessing Healthcare Services Among Marginalized Refugees: Insight from a Qualitative Study of Yezidis

Obstacles to navigate and access healthcare are a real concern for underserved populations, especially refugees and immigrants. Known barriers to health care include high cost of health services, inadequate or no health insurance, and lack of transportation. To reduce health disparities, there is an urgent need to better understand the barriers that hinder and resources that facilitate access to healthcare for underserved populations. From July 2019 to January 2020, a series of focus group discussions took place to investigate barriers to healthcare system access faced by the Yezidis refugees in Lincoln, Nebraska. A nine-member focus group included social workers, healthcare works, and members of the Yezidi community. This qualitative research study finds a number of obstacles to healthcare access, including lack of knowledge about the healthcare system, language and dialect barriers, lack of health insurance, and cultural and environmental barriers. Mental health treatment was identified as an urgent need to be addressed. Additional challenges included living in a poor and/or isolated neighborhood, health care system complexity, difficulty knowing where to go for health services, long waiting times for medical appointments, obstacles to get non-prescribed medication, and transportation barriers. Mistrust in the health system, the experience of discrimination, and social isolation were also perceived as barriers. In conclusion, the study found that many obstacles prevent refugees from accessing health care. Interpreting these barriers through a social-ecological lens can provide insight into possible intervention strategies. Approaches to address these barriers should include health education and policy change. Advisor: Megan S. Kelle