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Examining the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iraqi Refugees in Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Needal Ghadi

    (School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Jordan Tustin

    (School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Ian Young

    (School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Nigar Sekercioglu

    (Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada)

  • Susan Abdula

    (London Employment Help Centre, London, ON N5Y 1A8, Canada)

  • Fatih Sekercioglu

    (School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health and social inequities among migrant groups more than others. Higher rates of poverty, unemployment, living in crowded households, and language barriers have placed resettled refugees at a higher risk of facing disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. To understand how this most vulnerable population has been impacted by the ongoing pandemic, this study reports on the responses of 128 Iraqi refugees in the city of London, Ontario, to a survey on the economic, social, and health-related impacts that they have faced for almost two years since the beginning the pandemic. The analysis of the survey indicated that 90.4% of the study population reported having health concerns during the pandemic while 80.3% expressed facing financial distress. The results also show that 58.4% of respondents experienced some form of social isolation. These all suggest that refugees are faced with several barriers which can have a compounding effect on their resettlement experience. These findings provide resettlement and healthcare providers with some information that may assist in reducing the impact of COVID-19 and other possible health security emergencies on resettled refugees and their communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Needal Ghadi & Jordan Tustin & Ian Young & Nigar Sekercioglu & Susan Abdula & Fatih Sekercioglu, 2024. "Examining the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iraqi Refugees in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:374-:d:1360736
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clarke, Lorcan, 2020. "An introduction to economic studies, health emergencies, and COVID-19," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 105051, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Nida Rauf & Shaffaq Zulfiqar & Sidra Mumtaz & Hadia Maryam & Rabail Shoukat & Abid Malik & Armaan A. Rowther & Atif Rahman & Pamela J. Surkan & Najia Atif, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women with Perinatal Anxiety Symptoms in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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