Access to Health Care by Refugees: A Dimensional Analysis

Abstract

Knowledge of this unique population is integral to healthcare professionals who encounter refugees in clinical practice. Regardless of the specific group, access to healthcare services must be determined for better health outcomes.

“You Are Not Alone”Strategies for Addressing Mental Health and Health Promotion with a Refugee Women's Sewing Group

“…The women's commitment to regular attendance and willingness to tell their stories was powerful. Some of the barriers identified by Navuluri and colleagues (2014) and Szajna and Ward (2015) also emerged during the PW sessions.…”

“…In order to better serve this community, nurses must assess the barriers that refugees face. However, refugees are not a homogeneous group, and cultural norms, values, and beliefs vary creating health care delivery challenges (Szajna & Ward, 2015). Despite the dedication, care, and rigor invested in the development of culturally sensitive screening instruments, there is the risk of cultural bias when using ordinal scales as they may not translate effectively across cultures.…”

“…The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) challenges communities to raise awareness about mental health conditions, address stigmas, conduct culturally appropriate mental health screenings, and provide mental health resources to refugees (ORR, 2016). Szajna and Ward (2015) shared four reccurring barriers that affected refugees' access to health care: 1) Culture, as health beliefs and social norms varied from country to country; 2) Language issues around verbalising their health care needs; 3) Discrimination and stigmatisation specifically related to mental health, religious, or regional stigma; and 4) Logistical concerns such as transportation, location, and navigating the health care system. Navuluri et al (2014) reported that barriers that affect access to health care for the refugee population fall into two categories: 1) Internal-which include individual preferences and perspectives, and 2) Structural-that are more systematic and organisational related.…”

A qualitative study on African immigrant and refugee families’ experiences of accessing primary health care services in Manitoba, Canada: it’s not easy!

“…In another study that focused on health care providers’ perspectives of refugees access to health care services [28], refugees experienced additional barriers in language and interpretation, differences in culture, health care coverage, availability of services, isolation, poverty, and poor transport. In a dimensional analysis of refugees access to health care, it was found that a sense of discrimination and stigmatization, and logistical concerns were additional barriers to refugees’ access to health care services [29]. Moreover, refugees fear accessing health care services where their immigration status can be questioned or reported to law enforcement authorities [11, 27, 28] and being denied care [21].…”

Perceptions of Health Practices and Interactions with the US Healthcare System among Bhutanese Refugees: A Qualitative Approach

“…During the first eight months post resettlement to the US, all refugees qualify for federally funded Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) and cash assistance (ORR, 2012b). Previous literature exploring health practices in refugee populations identify cost and lack of insurance as a significant barrier to healthcare utilization (Szajna & Ward, 2015); thus, it is important to focus on Bhutanese refugees after the initial resettlement benefits end. We excluded refugees living in the US for greater than five years since greater likelihood that familiarity with mainstream health practices in the US increases with time spent in the US.…”