Funding outcome

Following a long tradition of welcoming refugees in Canada, the Federal Government resettled 25 000 Syrian refugees between November 2015 and February 2016. Considering the vulnerability of certain populations during war and conflict, the Canadian government prioritized the resettlement of Syrian refugee women, children and families. Many Syrian refugees lived in refugee camps, where they were exposed to trauma and violence, poor sanitation, poor nutrition and limited access to healthcare. When refugees arrive in Canada, they require support to assist in their settlement in to Canadian society; which ultimately ensures long-term success, and promotes health and wellbeing. In particular, refugee families will require access to healthcare. It is especially important that women and children have access to healthcare services as they are at higher risk of health concerns during conflict and displacement. Differences in language and culture, among other challenges, can be significant barriers for refugees in accessing healthcare services. In Canada, there are two programs that support refugees and assist in their re-settlement; the private and government sponsorship programs. The private program consists of groups of individuals, religious groups or community organizations that independently sponsor refugees. Private sponsors are responsible for providing settlement support and connecting refugees with services, such as healthcare. The government program consists of government-contracted agencies that provide settlement support. In Edmonton, one of these agencies is the New Canadians Clinic which provides medical expertise on health concerns common in refugee populations (i.e. infectious diseases). Private sponsors are responsible for connecting refugees with a family physician who may not have the same area of expertise. This difference in how refugees are connected to healthcare services may result in a disparity in the healthcare they receive. The large influx of Syrian refugee families over the past year has provided us a perfect opportunity to explore the re-settlement experience of Syrian newcomers. Therefore my research will use this opportunity to gain insight on the experiences of Syrian refugee women and children in accessing healthcare services in Edmonton.