Pulmonology
Volume 25, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 32-39

Immigrants’ access to health care: Problems identified in a high-risk tuberculosis population (Article) (Open Access)

Linhas R.* , Oliveira O. , Meireles P. , Oliveira P. , de Melo M.B. , Lourenço J. , Ferreira F. , Gaio R. , Duarte R.
  • a Serviço de Pneumologia, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
  • b EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • c EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • d EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • e Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
  • f Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • g Departamento de Matemática, Faculdade de Ciências, Porto, Portugal
  • h Departamento de Matemática, Faculdade de Ciências, Porto, Portugal, Centro de Matemática, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • i Serviço de Pneumologia, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal, Departamento de Ciências de Saúde Pública, Ciências Forenses e Educação Médica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

Abstract

Introduction: Immigrants may utilize health care services differently than other residents and may also have a greater risk for tuberculosis (TB). Objective: Identify barriers to healthcare access by immigrants, factors associated with these barriers, and discuss strategies that may reduce these barriers. Material and methods: Anonymous questionnaires were given to immigrants at National Immigrant Support Centres between 2015 and 2016. Barriers to healthcare were identified using logistic regression. Results: One-hundred and nineteen questionnaires were administered to immigrants, 9 of whom (8%) presented with TB while in Portugal. Twenty-one percent of immigrants reported barriers to healthcare access, and 69% had general practitioners (GPs). The presence of barriers to healthcare access was negatively associated with having a GP and with being married or in a de facto union. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of immigrants reported having difficulties accessing healthcare services in Portugal where legally these barriers are nonexistent. Certain factors were associated with these difficulties. © 2018 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia

Author Keywords

Barriers Health services Immigration tuberculosis

Index Keywords

education communication barrier Communication Barriers hospitalization Portugal human risk assessment middle aged Aged General Practitioners general practitioner procedures Cross-Sectional Studies South Africa Surveys and Questionnaires interview cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female tuberculosis risk factor questionnaire prevalence Article health care major clinical study adult health care access employment Health Services Accessibility health care delivery Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050802054&doi=10.1016%2fj.pulmoe.2018.04.002&partnerID=40&md5=099aae493fcc6f2eecedcefd0037e52a
DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2018.04.002
ISSN: 25310429
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English