Paper short abstract:

The following contribution is the result of exploratory ethnographic research conducted in the Northern regions of Great Britain, delving into the health perceptions and lived events of care/neglect that result from the immigration process, cultural differences, and other contextual aspects.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation explores and analyses the health-seeking patterns of Latin American migrants in Britain, including types of healthcare practices exercised and preferred modes of resolving ailments. Multiple reports by various organisations warn about the high levels of inequality and vulnerabilities faced by the Latin American population in the UK, which have been exacerbated by the latest migration policies, the global economic recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. In terms of health and well-being, a large proportion of this group struggles with access to healthcare provision, with overall poor outcomes in mental health and exclusion from social protection services.

Despite the inequalities faced, this population group has been widely ignored by both governmental welfare policies and scientific literature, with no official recognition as an ethnic minority and most of the health-related studies focusing solely on infectious disease burden and epidemiological statistics. Previous qualitative research has examined the conditions and needs of the Latin communities in the English capital, but there is still a need to further explore the experiences of those who are settled outside the Metropolitan area of London.

The following contribution is the result of exploratory ethnographic research conducted in the Northern regions of Great Britain, delving into the health perceptions and lived events of care/neglect that result from the immigration process, cultural differences, and other contextual aspects.