Intersectionality, racism, and mental health of migrants arriving at borders in Latin America - A qualitative study of the cases of Ecuador and Chile

Sep 30, 2026

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Migration functions as a social determinant of health, linking mobility to health outcomes for individuals and populations globally. This qualitative study addresses the need to move beyond purely individual models by examining how place, racialization processes, and structural elements such as policies shape immigrant mental health. The study focuses on perceived effects of intersectionality and racism on Venezuelan migrants and refugees at two Latin American borders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi145 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180 .404 5 Intersectionality, racism, and mental health of migrants arriving at borders in Latin America: a qualitative study of the cases of Ecuador and Chile Teresita Rocha-Jimenez1 1Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile EP3.4, e-Poster Terminal 3, September 4, 2025, 11:35-13:00 Aims: Migration is a social determinant of health, as human mobility is associated with the health outcomes of both individuals and populations around the world. Social sciences research on migration and health needs to transition from an individual approach to models that reveal how place, processes of racialization, and structural elements (i.e., policies) impact immigrant health. In this paper, we aim to describe in depth the case of intersectionality and racism and related perceived effects on the mental health of Venezuelan migrants and refugees at two relevant Latin American borders. Methods: The present study is part of a multisite qualitative project on two selected borders, the northern borders of Chile (i.e., Antofagasta, Iquique, and Arica) and Ecuador (i.e., Tulcán, Nueva Loja) . Data was collected in Chile from May to December 2022 and in Ecuador from October to December of the same year. Semistructured interviews with key informants were conducted in each country (n ¼ 30) and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to identify significant themes. Results: We found structural axes (i.e., socioeconomic, migration status, gender) of power that intersect in the conditions and experiences of migrants and refugees on both borders in their access to health and mental health care. Conclusions: We proposed the notions of intersectionality and racism to deliberately connect complex and dynamic concepts relevant to migrant and refugee health research, such as the racism faced by historically racialized populations based on their phenotypes, social class, and/or nationality and socioeconomic and gender inequalities.

FAQs

What is the study aiming to investigate about migrants' mental health?

The study aims to describe intersectionality and racism and their perceived effects on the mental health of Venezuelan migrants and refugees at two Latin American borders.

How was data collected and analyzed?

Semistructured interviews with key informants were conducted in Chile and Ecuador (n=30), and the data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to identify significant themes.

What did the study find regarding structural factors and access to care?

Structural axes of power, including socioeconomic factors, migration status, and gender, intersect in shaping migrants' and refugees' conditions and experiences in accessing health and mental health care.

What concepts did the authors propose in the conclusions?

The authors propose intersectionality and racism to connect complex and dynamic concepts relevant to migrant and refugee health research, including racism tied to phenotypes, social class, and/or nationality as well as socioeconomic and gender inequalities.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Sarah