Mental health of female Venezuelan migrant caregivers in Colombia: A multi-study, mixed-methods analysis.

BACKGROUND

The Venezuelan migrant crisis is the largest forced displacement in the Western Hemisphere. Venezuelan migrants face numerous challenges during the migration and resettlement process, negatively impacting their mental and physical health. Migrants who are caregivers face additional vulnerabilities and health needs, particularly women of reproductive age. However, there is limited research on the mental health of this population, including predictors of mental health conditions.

METHODS

We combined two datasets, including 1,124 quantitative telephone surveys and 28 qualitative semistructured interviews with female Venezuelan migrant caregivers in Colombia - the primary destination for Venezuelan migrants globally - to characterize the prevalence of psychological distress and symptoms of depression and anxiety, key predictors of illness, and experiences with the healthcare system, using a convergent parallel design.

RESULTS

We found that a high number of respondents experienced symptoms of moderate-to-severe distress (63%), depression (18%) and anxiety (28%). Across datasets, financial stressors, experiences of discrimination, family separation experiences and history with other health and chronic diseases significantly worsened mental health. Both datasets also showed the protective impacts of social support and mental healthcare from informal sources.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the critical mental healthcare needs of female Venezuelan migrant caregivers residing in Colombia.