European Journal of Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 394-399

Use of health care services by Afghan, Iranian, and Somali refugees and asylum seekers living in the Netherlands (Article) (Open Access)

Gerritsen A.A.M.* , Bramsen I. , Devillé W. , Van Willigen L.H.M. , Hovens J.E. , Van Der Ploeg H.M.
  • a Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • c NIVEL, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • d Consultancy for Health and Human Rights, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • e Delta Bouman Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Poortugaal, Netherlands
  • f Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Background: Although asylum seekers have been coming to The Netherlands since the 1980s, very few epidemiological studies have focused on this group of inhabitants, or on the refugees who have resettled in this country. The objective of this study is to estimate the use of health care services by refugees and asylum seekers and to identify determinants for this utilisation. Methods: A population-based study was conducted in The Netherlands from June 2003 to April 2004 among adult refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia. A total of 178 refugees and 232 asylum seekers, living in 3 municipalities and 14 reception centres, participated. Results: This study showed that there are no differences between refugees and asylum seekers in the self-reported use of health care services. Respondents from Somalia reported less contacts with a general practitioner, less use of mental health services, and less medication use than respondents from Afghanistan and Iran. Both female gender and older age were related to more contacts with a general practitioner and a medical specialist, and with higher medication use. Poor general health was related to more contacts with a medical specialist and mental health services, and with higher medication use. Conclusion: Asylum seekers and refugees seem to have equal access to the Dutch health care system in general. However, there are differences in the self-reported use of health care services by the different ethnic groups. © The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Determinants Health services Refugee prevalence study

Index Keywords

Netherlands Afghanistan refugee human Refugees Self Report health service controlled study priority journal general practitioner Logistic Models Iran Humans Adolescent male Chi-Square Distribution female health services Article health care utilization major clinical study adult Somalia Transients and Migrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33748150897&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fckl046&partnerID=40&md5=bac4c32c26d384fe41fb0bb9f380203f
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckl046
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 48
Original Language: English