The Medical field for DACA students
My research is currently leading me up to the build on how important access to health care is for DACA recipients. Overall my research has changed from second-tier sources to primary sources that are peer-reviewed. I completely changed my focus on my research question from DACA education to how the medical field and DACA are obstacles to one another. The stress and depression many students are facing while the rescinding of DACA and fears of deportation arises.
I last left off by talking about the relationship between the students and their privileges in the country. DACA has a huge amount of recipients being around 800,000. That is where there is responsibility for medical providers to help and educate that community. In the article, “Navigating a fragmented health care landscape: DACA recipients’ shifting access to health care” by Getrich, M. Christina, and Kaelin Rapport, and Alaska Burdette, and Ana Ortez-Rivera, and Delmis Umanzor created this world that DACA is underrepresented in. In general, DACA recipients are against the medical field due to the circumstances of the state of citizenship. That is documented immigrants are ineligible for health care programs. The mixed families where the different backgrounds of accessibility will change their lives on what the medical field can provide. The financial support to reach a healthcare provider or even to begin paying bills is difficult for most families. The author states that “As one 21-year old Honduran, Lucia, succinctly stated it, “When I was a kid before I had DACA, I never really went to the doctor.” Instead, participants reported only going to clinics for mandatory school physicals or immunizations, delaying care because of the cost (or fear of the bill), relying on home remedies, and seeking care at community health clinics only when absolutely necessary — practices they shared in common with other underserved family members(Getrich et al)”. That fear and stress from deportation and not having economic stability will tear down the opportunity to seek help. Especially in the Latino community, the ability to have money to continue schooling or attend medical attention is crucial for families.
The importance of getting rich is to study how many recipients are facing inequalities present to them. The authors state, “In addition to those who were underinsured, seven individuals (23%) lacked health insurance altogether; thus, slightly more than half of our sample (53%) was underinsured or uninsured(Getrich et al)”. With this being said the statistics in the study conclude how the majority of participants are all facing problems while accessing insurance and health care. That understanding all the possible combinations that families have by being in coverage to little coverage by their insurance. The status of these students reflects the issue many are facing today due to the system.
The medical field in itself has low research on how many DACA students are under their call. Latino is a group of people who are often not very well in that field or ask for help. Since immigration is a big factor in the limitation of entering the medical field. The author states, “In 2015, only 6.4% of matriculates to medical school were of Hispanic/ Latino/Spanish origin and 6.5% were African American; only 4.6% of graduates were of Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin, 5.7% were African American, and 19.8% were Asian(Ramos et al)”. The rate of Latino going to medical is already low compared to others. That the misrepresentation in this field could be explained by the fear of deportation, economic instability, and access to higher education. Those with DACA have the ability to take advantage of opportunities and offers from medical schools around the U.S.
DACA students are suffering from the system is against them. That most families from an immigrant background cannot afford the cost of paying for school. That worries from where families can get help or medical treatment varies, and that home remedies one simple solution. DACA has helped maintain students in school and peak interest in finding solutions for medical care.
References
Getrich, M. Christina, and Kaelin Rapport, and Alaska Burdette, and Ana Ortez-Rivera, and Delmis Umanzor. 2018. “Navigating a fragmented health care landscape: DACA recipients’ shifting access to health care.” Social Science & Medicine 223 8–15.
Ramos, Julio, and Wil Liberman-Cribbin, and Christina Gillezeau, and Naomi Alpert, and Maaike van Gerwen. 2019. “The Impact of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Medical Students-A Scarce Resource to US Health Care.” American Journal of public health 109(3): 429–431.
