scholarly journals The negative health effects of hostile environment policies on migrants: A cross-sectional service evaluation of humanitarian healthcare provision in the UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie J. Weller ◽  
Liam J. Crosby ◽  
Eleanor R. Turnbull ◽  
Rachel Burns ◽  
Anna Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Undocumented Migrants ◽  
Hostile Environment ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Background: Recent UK ‘hostile environment’ immigration policies, including obligatory charging and sharing of confidential data between NHS Digital and the Home Office, have created an atmosphere of fear and exposed already highly marginalised and vulnerable groups to significant health risks by increasing barriers to accessing NHS care.  Methods:  This is a cross-sectional observational study of patients accessing healthcare at Doctors of the World (DOTW) in the UK. DOTW is a humanitarian organisation, providing care to those excluded from NHS healthcare. We aimed to describe population characteristics of individuals using DOTW services and identify groups at greatest risk of facing ‘hostile environment’-related barriers to NHS care, specifically being denied healthcare or fear of arrest. Results: A total of 1474 adults were seen in 2016. Nearly all were non-EU/EEA nationals (97.8%; 1441/1474), living in poverty (68.6%; 1011/1474). DOTW saw a large number of undocumented migrants (57.1%; 841/1474) and asylum seekers (18.2%; 268/1474). 10.2% (151/1474) of adults seen had been denied NHS healthcare and 7.7% (114/1474) were afraid to access NHS services. Asylum seeker status was associated with the highest risk (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.48-4.14) of being denied NHS healthcare and being undocumented was associated with the highest risk of fearing arrest (adjusted OR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.70-5.40). Conclusions: Our findings make visible the multiple and intersecting vulnerabilities of individuals forced to seek care outside of the NHS, underlining the public health imperative for the government to urgently withdraw its ‘hostile environment’ policies and address their negative health impacts.

scholarly journals Redrawing the border through the ‘Right to Rent’: Exclusion, discrimination and hostility in the English housing market

2020 ◽  
pp. 026101831989704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Mckee ◽  
Sharon Leahy ◽  
Trudi Tokarczyk ◽  
Joe Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Racial Profiling ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Criminal Prosecution ◽  
Undocumented Migrants ◽  
Hostile Environment ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Illegal Migrants ◽  
Guidance Documents ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Right

The UK Immigration Act 2016 is central to the Conservative Government’s drive to create a more hostile environment for potential migrants and current ‘illegal’ migrants residing in the UK. The Right to Rent provisions of the Act, which require private landlords in England to conduct mandatory immigration document checks on prospective tenants, or face sizeable fines and criminal prosecution, have been highlighted as a key facet of the legislation. Drawing on qualitative interviews with key experts and analysis of Home Office guidance documents, we argue the Right to Rent has turned the private rental market into a border-check, with landlords responsibilised to perform ‘everyday bordering’ on behalf of the State. This creates a potentially discriminatory environment for all migrants, as well as for British citizens who lack documentation and/or may be subject to racial profiling. It may also be forcing vulnerable, undocumented migrants into even more precarious housing situations.

scholarly journals Creating a ‘hostile environment for migrants’: the British government’s use of health service data to restrict immigration is a very bad idea

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucinda Hiam ◽  
Sarah Steele ◽  
Martin McKee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Hostile Environment ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Service Data

AbstractIn January 2017, the UK Government made public a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Health, National Health Service (NHS) Digital and the Home Office. This Memorandum allows for the more expedited sharing of a patient’s non-clinical data, specifically from the NHS England to the Home Office. The Government justified the MoU as in the ‘public interest to support effective immigration enforcement’. In this review, we seek to unpack this justification by providing, first, a background to the MoU, placing it in the context of creating a ‘hostile environment’ for migrants – a project initially sought by Theresa May in her time as Home Secretary. We then explore the potential impact of data sharing on individual health, public health and on health professionals. We conclude that the MoU could threaten both individual and public health, while placing health professionals in an unworkable position both practically and in terms of their duties to patients around confidentiality. As such, we agree with colleagues’ position that it should be suspended, at least until a full consultation and health impact assessment can be carried out.

scholarly journals Use of online cultural content for mental health and well-being during COVID-19 restrictions: cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Syed Sheriff ◽  
Helen Adams ◽  
Evgenia Riga ◽  
Andrew K. Przybylski ◽  
Laura Bonsaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Online Culture ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
June July ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

Aims and method To gain a deeper understanding of the use of online culture and its potential benefits to mental health and well-being, sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported data on usage, perceived mental health benefits and health status were collected in an online cross-sectional survey during COVID-19 restrictions in the UK in June–July 2020. Results In total, 1056 people completed the survey. A high proportion of participants reported finding online culture helpful for mental health; all but one of the benefits were associated with regular use and some with age. Reported benefits were wide-ranging and interconnected. Those aged under 25 years were less likely to be regular users of online culture or to have increased their use during lockdown. Clinical implications There may be benefits in targeting cultural resources for mental health to vulnerable groups such as young adults.

Spells of belonging

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-131
Author(s):  
Susannah Crockford
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Hostile Environment ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Common Strategy ◽  
Immigration And Asylum ◽  
The Uk ◽  
British Home

Anna Tuckett’s piece on the paper trails left, created and curated by migrant streams crossing Europe raises questions on how social personhood is legally affirmed or undermined by legal paperwork. As is now a well aired fact, those UK citizens affected by the ‘hostile environment’ instituted by the British Home Office (HO) from 2012 onwards were disproportionately black and descended from former Caribbean colonies (Olusoga 2019). I consider my experience relating to immigration practices and assumptions to indicate aspects of this environment in the making. In 2004, I spent six months working for the civil service in the UK as a blandly labelled ‘presenting officer’. A presenting officer presented the Home Secretary’s case for refusing immigration and asylum claims that the applicant had appealed. In such cases, it was common strategy to draw attention to the lack of consistency, in terms of both narrative and between a person and their papers. Narrative consistency was required: the same story had to be told to the case officer on presenting a claim and in the courtroom to the adjudicator and in any and every opportunity to retell the tale the applicant had. Any inconsistency was taken as evidence of deceit. A person had to be able to document their birth, entries and exits to the UK, schooling, workplaces, income and family relationships. The requirements of consistency reified relationships that had documentary existence over those that did not. Lack of documents undermined a person’s ability to make their case.

Healthy Start: The Use of Welfare Food Vouchers by Low-Income Parents in England

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia J Lucas ◽  
Tricia Jessiman ◽  
Ailsa Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Healthy Start ◽  
Fruit And Vegetables ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Additional Protection ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Self Service ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Social Security Benefits

The Healthy Start scheme provides food welfare to pregnant women and children under four years old in the UK. The Government provides vouchers to families living on a low income that can be exchanged for infant formula, plain cow's milk and fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables. This article reports on a qualitative study of parents using Healthy Start in England. Interviews were conducted with 107 parents from thirteen areas in England. Most found the scheme easy to use, but some vulnerable groups were unable to access the scheme. The vouchers provided a vital source of food at times of crisis, and put purchase of fruit and vegetables within reach for some. Parents reduced stigma by using self-service tills and by only visiting retailers known to accept the vouchers. Healthy Start provides additional protection by sitting outside of other social security benefits. To continue to provide this essential protection, their value should be reviewed and increased.

scholarly journals Community engagement in the prevention and control of COVID-19: Insights from Vietnam

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0254432
Author(s):  
Bui Thi Thu Ha ◽  
La Ngoc Quang ◽  
Pham Quoc Thanh ◽  
Duong Minh Duc ◽  
Tolib Mirzoev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Steering Committee ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Control

Introduction Community engagement (CE) is an effective public health strategy for improving health outcomes. There is limited published knowledge about effective approaches to CE in ensuring effective responses to COVID-19 throughout lockdowns, travel restrictions and social distancing. In this paper, we contribute to bridging this gap by highlighting experience of CE in Vietnam, specifically focusing on migrant workers in Vietnam. Methods A cross-sectional qualitative study design was used with qualitative data collection was carried out during August-October 2020. Two districts were purposefully selected from two large industrial zones. Data was collected using in-depth interviews (n = 36) with individuals and households, migrants and owners of dormitories, industrial zone factory representatives, community representatives and health authorities. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis approach. The study received ethics approval from the Hanoi University Institutional Review Board. Results The government’s response to COVID-19 was spearheaded by the multi-sectoral National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19, chaired by the Vice Prime Minister and comprised different members from 23 ministries. This structure was replicated throughout the province and local levels and all public and private organizations. Different activities were carried out by local communities, following four key principles of infection control: early detection, isolation, quarantine and hospitalization. We found three key determinants of engagement of migrant workers with COVID-19 prevention and control: availability of resources, appropriate capacity strengthening, transparent and continuous communication and a sense of trust in government legitimacy. Discussion and conclusion Our results support the current literature on CE in infection control which highlights the importance of context and suggests that future CE should consider five key components: multi-sectoral collaboration with a whole-of-community approach to strengthen governance structures with context-specific partnerships; mobilization of resources and decentralization of decision making to encourage self-reliance and building of local capacity; capacity building through training and supervision to local institutions; transparent and clear communication of health risks and sensitization of local communities to improve compliance and foster trust in the government measures; and understanding the urgent needs ensuring of social security and engaging all parts of the community, specifically the vulnerable groups.

scholarly journals Why Patients with Chronic Disease Keep Silent? Analysis of Item Nonresponse in Rural China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiqing MAO ◽  
Zhanchun FENG ◽  
Shangfeng TANG ◽  
Tailai WU ◽  
Ruoxi WANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Rural China ◽  
School Education ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Item Nonresponse ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Government

Background: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of item nonresponse and examine the factors affecting the refusal or failure to respond of patients with chronic disease in rural China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey data from patients with chronic disease from rural China were analyzed. A total of 1,099 patients were enrolled. Chi-square test and cumulative logistic regression determined the predictors of having item nonresponse. Results: The respondents in central provinces (OR = 2.311, 95%CI = 0.532~1.144, P < 0.001) with over eight household members (OR = 0.067, 95%CI = -1.632~-0.349, P = 0.002), multiple chronic diseases (OR = 0.301, 95%CI = -1.673~-0.727, P < 0.001), and low health knowledge level (OR = 2.112, 95%CI = 0.405~1.090, P < 0.001) had more item nonresponse numbers. Compared with the participants with high school education level and above, the item nonresponse number seemed to increase when the participants were illiterate (OR = 2.159, 95%CI = 0.254~1.285, P = 0.003), had primary school education (OR = 2.161, 95%CI = 0.249~1.294, P = 0.004) and junior school education (OR = 2.070, 95%CI = 0.160~1.296, P = 0.012). Conclusion: This study indicates the influencing factors of the item nonresponse in survey of patients with chronic disease in rural China. This study contributes to investigation practice and highlights that health institutions should improve the quality of follow-up services. Moreover, the government should pay more attention to the care of vulnerable groups, especially patients with chronic disease in rural areas.

scholarly journals Perceived Stress During the COVID-19-Related Confinement in Cyprus

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kyprianidou ◽  
Costas A. Christophi ◽  
Konstantinos Giannakou
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Current Smoker ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Score ◽  
The Government ◽  
Republic Of Cyprus

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global health emergency that could potentially have a significant impact on both somatic as well as psychological level. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of perceived stress in the general adult population of Cyprus during the first COVID-19 lockdown period. This was an internet-based cross-sectional study conducted between 6 April and 20 June 2020, one to two and a half months after the introduction of and the first mandatory lockdown on its entire territory imposed by the government of the Republic of Cyprus on 24 March 2020. Data collection was done using a self-administered questionnaire that included information about socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, physical activity, smoking habits, and stress level. A total of 1,485 adults participated in the study. The median perceived stress score was 10 (q1 = 6, q3 = 15). Linear regression models showed that having a medium monthly income (€501-1,500) and being a current smoker was positively associated with the perceived stress score, while being male and physically active was negatively associated with the perceived stress score (all p &lt;0.05). People with medium average salary and current smokers were at a higher risk for perceived stress. Psychological interventions and/or psychological services provided in certain vulnerable groups would be beneficial in future lockdowns due to either COVID-19 or a new pandemic.

scholarly journals Associations between participation in organised physical activity in the school or community outside school hours and neighbourhood play with child physical activity and sedentary time: a cross-sectional analysis of primary school-aged children from the UK

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e017588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Jago ◽  
Corrie Macdonald-Wallis ◽  
Emma Solomon-Moore ◽  
Janice, L. Thompson ◽  
Debbie, A. Lawlor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Sectional Analysis

ObjectivesTo assess the extent to which participation in organised physical activity in the school or community outside school hours and neighbourhood play was associated with children’s physical activity and sedentary time.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingChildren were recruited from 47 state-funded primary schools in South West England.Participants1223 children aged 8–9 years old.Outcome measuresAccelerometer-assessed moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time.MethodsChildren wore an accelerometer, and the mean minutes of MVPA and sedentary time per day were derived. Children reported their attendance at organised physical activity in the school or community outside school hours and neighbourhood play using a piloted questionnaire. Cross-sectional linear and logistic regression were used to examine if attendance frequency at each setting (and all settings combined) was associated with MVPA and sedentary time. Multiple imputation methods were used to account for missing data and increase sample size.ResultsChildren who attended clubs at school 3–4 days per week obtained an average of 7.58 (95% CI 2.7 to 12.4) more minutes of MVPA per day than children who never attended. Participation in the three other non-school-based activities was similarly associated with MVPA. Evidence for associations with sedentary time was generally weaker. Associations were similar in girls and boys. When the four different contexts were combined, each additional one to two activities participated in per week increased participants’ odds (OR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.25) of meeting the government recommendations for 60 min of MVPA per day.ConclusionParticipating in organised physical activity at school and in the community is associated with greater physical activity and reduced sedentary time among both boys and girls. All four types of activity contribute to overall physical activity, which provides parents with a range of settings in which to help their child be active.

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