Introduction:

Colombia is the main receiving country of the Venezuelan migrant population. This has involved identifying the health needs of this population, such as the care and treatment of infectious diseases.

Objective:

To analyze the use of health services related to HIV/AIDS, malaria and viral hepatitis in Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Colombia during 2018 and 2019.

Methodology:

Mixed research study. Twelve focus groups were held with Venezuelan women and men and an analysis was made of the use of health services for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and viral hepatitis diagnoses during 2018 and 2019 in six cities with a high migration flow: Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Santa Marta, and Riohacha.

Results:

The use of health services for infectious diseases among Venezuelan migrants increased from 2018 (n=1.519) to 2019 (n=3.988). Men were the greatest users of health services for these diseases. Even so, irregular migration status, deficiencies in primary care, and limited access to protection and early detection of communicable diseases are the main barriers to health care for migrants and refugees.

Conclusions:

Migration exposes people to the risk of infectious diseases, as well as to inequalities and social exclusion in access to health services for the control and treatment of these diseases. Therefore, in migration contexts, equity in health services should be strengthened by ensuring people’s access to primary care, inputs, diagnostic tests and treatment of infectious diseases.