“No one left behind”: A social determinant of health lens to the wellbeing of undocumented immigrants

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Undocumented and mixed-status families, in which some, but not all members have an undocumented immigration legal status, often face multiple and chronic stressors that influence their health. Compounded by trauma and limited opportunities, the aforementioned stressors negatively impact the physical and mental health of the undocumented and mixed-status population. This article uses a social determinants of health (SDOH) framework, examining five key domains--economic stability, education, healthcare, the social and community context, and the neighborhood and built environment. Undocumented immigrants face challenging living, social and work environments, have less economic stability, and have restricted access to opportunities. The aforesaid challenges place undocumented and mixed-status families at risk. Strategies are discussed to improve the health outcomes of this vulnerable population.

Related collections

Most cited references 47

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Evaluating the impact of immigration policies on health status among undocumented immigrants: a systematic review.

Omar Martinez, Elwin Wu, Theo Sandfort … (2015)

Over the past two decades, new anti-immigration policies and laws have emerged to address the migration of undocumented immigrants. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess and understand how these immigration policies and laws may affect both access to health services and health outcomes among undocumented immigrants. Eight databases were used to conduct this review, which returned 325 papers that were assessed for validity based on specified inclusion criteria. Forty critically appraised articles were selected for analysis; thirty articles related to access to health services, and ten related to health outcomes. The articles showed a direct relationship between anti-immigration policies and their effects on access to health services. In addition, as a result of these policies, undocumented immigrants were impacted by mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Action items were presented, including the promotion of cultural diversity training and the development of innovative strategies to support safety-net health care facilities serving vulnerable populations.

0 comments Cited 142 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities Among Immigrants and their Children

Cindy D Chang (2018)

In 2017, the United States (U.S.) foreign-born population was estimated to be 44.5 million, the highest share since 1910. It is unclear how many undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., but estimates in 2014 determined that there were at least 12.1 million. The immigrant population, particularly undocumented immigrants, has consistently been affected negatively by social determinants of health such as poverty, food and housing insecurity, lack of educational attainment, and challenges with health care access. Additionally, they face stigma and marginalization, difficulties with acculturation, and fear of deportation. Given these challenges that immigrants and their children face, physicians have a responsibility of assessing these social determinants of health and providing comprehensive care for this population.