Newcomer Children Less Likely to Use Emergency Departments for Minor Illnesses Than Ontario-Born Peers

A study by ICES and SickKids finds refugee and immigrant children have lower non-urgent ED visit rates than Ontario-born peers due to better navigation support.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 1:15 PM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences

Challenging Myths of Healthcare Misuse

A comprehensive observational study has found that newcomer children—specifically refugees and immigrants—are significantly less likely to visit the emergency department (ED) for non-urgent conditions compared to children born in Ontario. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, tracked 458,597 children over a four-year period following their arrival or birth. The findings challenge long-standing public perceptions that immigrant families over-rely on emergency services for minor health issues, such as respiratory infections or mild fever.

The Role of Settlement Support in Healthcare Navigation

The data indicates that during the first two years after arrival, refugee and immigrant families are more likely to seek help from primary care providers rather than the ED. This trend is particularly pronounced among resettled refugees, who often receive intensive healthcare navigation support from settlement workers and private sponsors. According to Dr. Astrid Guttmann, a senior scientist at ICES and SickKids, this early-intervention support helps families understand the "appropriate use" of the healthcare system, directing them toward family doctors and community clinics for non-emergency needs.

Fluctuations in Care After the Initial Resettlement Period

While the first two years show highly efficient healthcare utilization, the study noted a shift as families reached their third and fourth years in Canada. After the initial two-year window, primary care visits for minor conditions decreased, and non-urgent ED visits began to rise. Researchers suggest this may be tied to the expiration of resettlement financial support and the increased likelihood of parents entering the workforce. For many working newcomer families, accessing primary care during standard business hours becomes a significant barrier, eventually leading them back to the ED for minor illnesses during evenings or weekends.