Exploring how Syrian women manage their health after migration to Germany: results of a qualitative study

Abstract

Background In the recent years, the number of Syrians living in Germany increased drastically due to the massive displacement caused by the Syrian conflict. Syrian migrant women in Germany are challenged by both the migration process and the changing of social roles. Seeking out healthcare may be hampered by linguistic and cultural barriers, but the new context may offer opportunities for health and well-being (free access to health care, civil/human rights). Little is known about how Syrian women manage their health after their resettlement in Germany. Methods In depth interviews in Arabic were conducted with 9 Syrian women who were recruited through purposive sampling (18–55 years, migrated in 2011–2017, different education levels), focusing on capabilities to control one’s health and to navigate the German healthcare system, and social/environmental barriers and facilitators to effectively manage their health. Interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The women reported their health to be impaired by post-migration stressors, such as perceived discrimination, loss of social status and worrying about the future. Many interviewees felt disempowered and incompetent to successfully and actively navigate the German healthcare system, lacking information and not understanding their rights and options under the health insurance plan. The language barrier added to feeling vulnerable. Many women experienced doctors declining to treat them for capacity reasons; when treated, they often did not feel taken seriously or were dissatisfied with the emotional/cultural aspects of care. If possible, Arabic doctors were sought out. Some women, however, described improved resources for health, and appreciated better women’s rights as a source of power. Conclusions The lack of information about the structure and offers of the German healthcare system, language and culture specific barriers as well as socio-cultural challenges are undermining the ability of Syrian women to manage their health effectively after their resettlement in Germany. Providing tailored information on the German healthcare system, creating a health-literacy supportive environment, and improving cultural sensitivity in healthcare provision could help Syrian women better utilize medical care offered in Germany.

Subjective health status and health literacy of African refugees and asylum seekers in Germany: a cross-sectional survey

“…Reliance on non-professional interpreters often leads to feelings of guilt and dependency among patients (Kikhia et al , 2021), ultimately affecting the quality of medical care. Effective solutions include employing bilingual physicians and using trained in-person, telephone or video interpreting services.…”

“…Reliance on non-professional interpreters often leads to feelings of guilt and dependency among patients (Kikhia et al, 2021), ultimately affecting the quality of medical care.…”

Racism against migrants in healthcare in Europe: a scoping review

“…The qualitative studies recruited participants via purposive sampling [44][45][46][47][48], quota sampling [49], and convenience sampling, which was typically followed by snowballing. Convenience sampling involved the acquisition of participants from various clusters, including healthcare and nursing institutions [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57], immigrant associations, non-governmental organizations, religious institutions, or community centers [56, 58-65], speci c illness support groups, workshops, or centers [66, 67], speci c cities or geographical areas [68-70], and/or universities.…”

“…The most common religious background focused on was Islam, including two studies looking at the care of Muslim patients [51,59] and one looking at the care of South Asian Sikh and Muslim patients [48]. Three studies focused on migrants from European and Middle Eastern countries, including one on migrants from Eastern European countries broadly [75], one on migrants from Syria [44], one on migrants from Turkey [60, 68], and one on migrants from Turkey and Portugal [60]. The study looking at migrants from Eastern Europe also looked at migrants of Afro-Caribbean descent [75].…”

Factors influencing the nutritional behavior of Syrian migrants in Germany — results of a qualitative study

“…Still, little is known about the concepts of health, well-being, and health-related lifestyles, such as diets and physical activity, that prevail among this population. So far, German studies on Syrian migrants have mainly focused on their physical health upon arrival in Germany [ 31 , 32 ], their mental health [ 33 – 35 ] and general health behavior among Syrian subgroups [ 36 ], and the legal situation regarding health insurance in Germany [ 37 ]. The focus of these studies was not always exclusively on Syrian migrants but included other new arrivals.…”