Does Language Proficiency Affect Completion of Telerehabilitation Video Visits? A Retrospective Study.

The current refugee crisis has led to over 6.4 million Afghan refugees and asylum representing one of the largest refugee populations globally []. More than 200,000 Afghans have resettled in the United States (U.S.) during the last two decades, many after the 2021 Taliban takeover []. The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent biological, mental, and social sequelae, have severely impacted refugees’ lives in the U.S. including Afghan refugee women [, ]. While the COVID-19 pandemic’s short-term effects on Afghan refugee women’s health were significant [], its potential long-term damage to their integration could be devastating. Yet, knowledge about how Afghan refugee women integrate into U.S. society and COVID-19’s impact on this remains limited. Integration into the host society is key for refugees, seen as their journey to becoming recognized members of the host society []. Refugee integration involves multiple dimensions: social, economic, legal, cultural, and political [, ]. Unlike other migrants, refugees face unique integration hurdles, including involuntary relocation and structural barriers like discrimination and residency uncertainties in host countries [, ]. Existing theoretical models often study refugee integration by looking at individual and community traits affecting their adaptation []. For example, past research has shown that personal factors like gender and parenthood significantly impact key domains of refugee integration such as language learning, employment, education, and cultural norms [, ]. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified existing inequalities, making access to healthcare, education, legal protection, and economic opportunities more challenging for refugees [, ]. The interruption of essential supplies, such as food and medicine, and restrictions on movement and social distancing measures further compounded these hardships. The pandemic intensified financial and legal barriers which affected refugees’ ability to secure employment and access to social services, crucial for achieving financial independence and security. Heightened social isolation, unemployment, and challenges in accessing accurate health information were other impacts of COVID-19 on refugees [, ]. Moreover, COVID-19 has intensified violence and insecurity against refugees, especially refugee women [, ]. The closures of state and local administrations during the pandemic have also prevented some refugees from obtaining or renewing their permits for residency or work []. The mental health impact of the pandemic on refugees was also significant, with increased reports of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress [].