Virtual Care and Social Support for Refugee Mothers during COVID-19: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The intersection of gender, motherhood, and migration status creates distinct challenges for refugee mothers, but social support can facilitate their navigation of migration and motherhood. Taking a Salutogenic Theory approach (Antonovsky, 1979), we examined refugee mothers’ access to virtual social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective is to understand the provision of virtual social support for refugee mothers from the perspective of service providers and recently arrived refugee mothers to Canada. Methods: Virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted with three service providers and five refugee mothers in one settlement agency in Ontario, Canada. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Six main themes emerged. Results: From interviews with service providers the themes include: virtual adaptation of services; unique barriers to virtual services emerging from the intersection of gender, culture, and migration status; and supporting women’s agency and independence. From interviews with mothers, we identified the following themes: gratitude for instrumental support; organization as a link between self and society; and usefulness of virtual support, but preference for in-person support. Discussion: Providers acknowledged clients’ diverse circumstances. They developed flexible strategies to identify client needs and help them build skills. Clients found virtual services essential to resettlement, if not ideal. Conclusion: With tailored programming, virtual services can be effective in providing support. Moreover, refugee mothers acquired digital skills to independently navigate virtual resources, despite limited digital literacy. This demonstrates the value of using of virtual services for vulnerable or hard to reach populations.