Role of the intercultural facilitator for international migrants in chilean health centres: perspectives from four groups of key actors

Abstract

Objective. To research the perception of different key actors regarding the role of intercultural facilitators in health care for Haitian migrants in the communes of Quilicura and Santiago de Chile. Materials and Methods. Qualitative study of exploratory and descriptive type, with case study design, in family health centers and hospitals of two communes of the Metropolitan Region of Chile. The technique of semi-structured interviews with key actors (health authorities, health workers, intercultural facilitators, and international migrants) was used with verbatim transcription and thematic analysis of contents (n=18). Results. The perception of the role of intercultural facilitators for the health care of international migrants is related to activities like translation, interpretation, health system education in Chile, intercultural mediation, and administrative tasks. In addition, it collaborates in educational activities for migrants who require support in addressing cultural differences. This vision is shared by several key actors considered for the study and according to the current health policy. Conclusions. The intercultural facilitators make a contribution to the intercultural health encounter in Chile, and they are witnesses of how our institutions face different realities in linguistic and socio-cultural matters. Recognizing the importance of the intercultural facilitator in health care with intercultural relevance towards international migrant population is a social advance and one of the Chilean health system, which can be replicated in countries that face similar challenges and do not wish to ignore the growing social and cultural diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a consequence of the dynamic transformations stemming from international migration processes.