Vulnerability of Venezuelan immigrants living in Boa Vista, Roraima

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify the social and health vulnerabilities of Venezuelan immigrants living in Boa Vista, Roraima. METHOD: Mixed methods research, with concomitant transformative strategy. In the quantitative phase, analysis of management documents for the state of Roraima and the capital Boa Vista were carried out. In the qualitative, open interviews with 16 Venezuelan immigrants, 14 nursing professionals and 8 public managers and a focus group with 12 nursing professionals. The webQDA software was used to organize the data and the content and discourse analyzes were based on Bardin and on dialectic-hermeneutics, according to Minayo. RESULTS: The main vulnerabilities identified were the absence of public policies for immigrants, the fragility of links with health services and language differences. CONCLUSION: The vulnerabilities of Venezuelan immigrants are linked to their ways of living and working. Health institutions and organizations are not fully qualified to serve them. Specific policies are needed for this social group and to qualify institutions and health professionals to implement these policies.