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Table 3 Summary of the results of the key points

From: Maghrebi minors as translators in health services in Tarragona (Spain): a qualitative study of the discourse of the Maghrebi adults

Causes

Poor language proficiency among Maghrebis

Very limited access to translation/mediation resources

Translation/mediation services not proactively organized

Maghrebi adults prioritiz their employment responsibilities over children’s education

Perceived attitudes among health professionals

Positive attitude to using children as translators in health services

No desire to encourage the participation of children, but no opposition to it

Opposition to the practice for several reasons (quality of translation and perpetuation of dependence effect among users)

Opposition to the practice because it infringes on the child’s rights

Maghrebi adults’ attitudes

Willingness to routinely use support resources

Willingness to occasionally use support resources (but not in situations where sexual or reproductive issues are discussed, or where this would lead to missing school)

A belief that children should not used in this way

Consequences

Translations are of poor quality

The children miss school

Children are emotionally affected

Family hierarchies are inverted

Child’s self-esteem may be affected positively

Proposals for improvement

Collaboration between educational and health care institutions Promotion of firm attitudes against using children as translators

Provision of sufficient mediation/translation services

Promotion of language learning among Maghrebi immigrant

Provision of the same employment rights for immigrants and Spanish nationals