Abstract

GUEDES, Fábio Botelho et al. Refugees, migrants and COVID-19: qualitative analysis of the aparttogether/who study. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.3, pp.602-613.  Epub Dec 31, 2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230302.

The main objective of this study is to understand which conditions migrants and refugees living in Portugal identify as being the most important to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. We also intend to explore how they managed to help other migrants and refugees to deal with the pandemic. This is a qualitative study with content analysis part of the international study ApartTogether in collaboration with the World Health Organization. 330 individuals were surveyed, with a mean age of 35.25±11.21 years, of which 62% (n=183) are female. The results indicate that the conditions identified by migrants or refugees as important to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic are proximity to family and friends, positive thoughts, keeping or getting a job and financial support (once many lost their jobs due to the pandemic and the associated confinement measures). Emotional support and situations of volunteering/donation of food and essentials products were referred to as conditions created by migrants or refugees to help others deal with the pandemic. It is important to take migrant and refugee populations into account when designing plans and strategies to prevent and to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of consider the specific characteristics and needs of this population in order to minimize the existing social inequalities is highlighted.

Keywords : Portugal; Migrants; Refugees; COVID-19.

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