Healthcare Service Needs for Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Residents with Precarious Immigration Status in Canada: A Scoping Review
Authors: Alamgir Akm , Yahia Madona , Pradhan Susan Mary , Janczur Axelle 
Published: January 2025

Context: According to the World Bank (2023), 184 million people, constituting 2.3% of the world’s population, migrated globally. Even though over 23% of Canada’s population are immigrants (of whom 130,125 were refugees in 2021), recent data on the demographics, vulnerabilities, and healthcare needs of Canadian refugees, refugee claimants, and residents with precarious immigration status in Canada are scant.
Objective: Conduct a scoping review for the last 10 years to understand the trends of influx and vulnerabilities and identify the unique healthcare and well-being needs of these equity-deserving immigrants living in Ontario since it is the destination province for 50% of Canada’s immigrants, with Toronto as a primary destination.
Methods: A scoping review study was conducted in 2024 by reviewing peer-reviewed articles from databases and an environmental scan of government reports and documents published in the last 10 years. Structured scoping review principles and the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA—ScR) model were used to ensure the robustness of the data. Articles focusing on Canada and countries with comparable economies and immigration laws were reviewed. After charting, the data were thematically analyzed.
Results: The number of refugees in Canada has consistently increased. Findings indicated that this group experienced social disparities, including vulnerable socio-economic status, food insecurity, social exclusion, and resettlement stressors compounded by trust issues, cultural recognition, and linguistic barriers. Studies report a higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as anemia, diabetes, high blood pressure and mental health issues such as mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Findings also suggested that this group experienced substantial barriers to health care, including inadequate cancer screening, suboptimal chronic hepatitis management, and underutilization of psychiatric care, attributed to a lack of awareness about opportunities, cultural stigma, and language challenges.
Conclusion: Study findings underscore the necessity for targeted healthcare services in Canada to meet the identified needs of refugees and residents with precarious status. The findings impact the planning of the current healthcare system to accommodate the needs of the population dynamics and train the healthcare service providers. Moreover, policymakers must develop the infrastructure (including healthy public policy) to face the future. Policymakers should focus on improving awareness, accessibility, and cultural competency in healthcare provision. More focused and culturally appropriate research is required to identify the unique needs and opportunities to support this equity-deserving population. The study recommends preparing the community to support the increasing numbers of refugees, understand their needs, and incorporate the government to strengthen the services with policy and resources.