Page 98 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 98
ie-Louise Luiking and Harshida Patel
health needs of persons in the host countries. It also stalls needed adjust-
ments of the rigid healthcare systems that are largely unequipped to cater
for migrants in need of care.
The health issues faced by migrant populations are similar to those faced
by the general population but are often compounded by their migratory his-
tory. Mobility results in poor continuity of care and simultaneously increases
the need for care (Kugel & Zuroweste, 2010). Poor mental and physical health
lead to a greater risk of morbidity and mortality in comparison to the rest of
the population of the host country.
Access to Healthcare
Access has been found to be a leading health indicator (Anderson, Scrimshaw,
Fullilove, Fielding, & Normand, 2003). Health is one of the most fundamen-
tal resources for an individual’s potential for development to be fulfilled
(Marmot, Friel, Bell, Houweling & Taylor 2008), as well as a key component
for an immigrant’s integration into the host society and the labour market.
However, findings from research show a decline in health status among the
refugees after settling in their host country (Newbold, 2005; Salman & Resick,
2015; Taylor et al., 2014).
Migrants struggle with similar challenges as other underserved popula-
tions regarding access to healthcare, but face the additional barriers of mo-
bility, language, cultural differences, and lack of familiarity with local health-
care services. Migrants on the move are brought out of their provider net-
works, reducing further access. It is even more complicated for the undocu-
mented migrants to contact healthcare as they often fear for deportation.
An extensive variety of barriers is reported in literature including: health-
care professionals’ views of migrants’ health issues, problems with adapta-
tion and little understanding of migrants’ expectations of healthcare ser-
vices within the host country. (Hakonsen, Lees, & Toverud, 2014; Kalich,
Heinemann, & Ghahari, 2016; Suphanchaimat, Kantamaturapoj, Putthasri, &
Prakongsai, 2015). These barriers hamper nurses and other healthcare pro-
fessionals to deliver high quality care. An essential dimension of quality of
care mirroring both patients’ expectations and their exposure is the migrant
patient’s experience of healthcare.
The main challenges for healthcare professionals are lack of awareness of
the migrants’ specific healthcare problems, language and intercultural com-
munication problems, as well as access and integration of migrant seekers
into the healthcare system. Awareness of these conditions is mandatory to
ensure good clinical practice for this patient population, which has a huge
96
health needs of persons in the host countries. It also stalls needed adjust-
ments of the rigid healthcare systems that are largely unequipped to cater
for migrants in need of care.
The health issues faced by migrant populations are similar to those faced
by the general population but are often compounded by their migratory his-
tory. Mobility results in poor continuity of care and simultaneously increases
the need for care (Kugel & Zuroweste, 2010). Poor mental and physical health
lead to a greater risk of morbidity and mortality in comparison to the rest of
the population of the host country.
Access to Healthcare
Access has been found to be a leading health indicator (Anderson, Scrimshaw,
Fullilove, Fielding, & Normand, 2003). Health is one of the most fundamen-
tal resources for an individual’s potential for development to be fulfilled
(Marmot, Friel, Bell, Houweling & Taylor 2008), as well as a key component
for an immigrant’s integration into the host society and the labour market.
However, findings from research show a decline in health status among the
refugees after settling in their host country (Newbold, 2005; Salman & Resick,
2015; Taylor et al., 2014).
Migrants struggle with similar challenges as other underserved popula-
tions regarding access to healthcare, but face the additional barriers of mo-
bility, language, cultural differences, and lack of familiarity with local health-
care services. Migrants on the move are brought out of their provider net-
works, reducing further access. It is even more complicated for the undocu-
mented migrants to contact healthcare as they often fear for deportation.
An extensive variety of barriers is reported in literature including: health-
care professionals’ views of migrants’ health issues, problems with adapta-
tion and little understanding of migrants’ expectations of healthcare ser-
vices within the host country. (Hakonsen, Lees, & Toverud, 2014; Kalich,
Heinemann, & Ghahari, 2016; Suphanchaimat, Kantamaturapoj, Putthasri, &
Prakongsai, 2015). These barriers hamper nurses and other healthcare pro-
fessionals to deliver high quality care. An essential dimension of quality of
care mirroring both patients’ expectations and their exposure is the migrant
patient’s experience of healthcare.
The main challenges for healthcare professionals are lack of awareness of
the migrants’ specific healthcare problems, language and intercultural com-
munication problems, as well as access and integration of migrant seekers
into the healthcare system. Awareness of these conditions is mandatory to
ensure good clinical practice for this patient population, which has a huge
96
