Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 5, 2015, Pages 1305-1312

Factors Associated with Healthcare Utilization Among Arab Immigrants and Iraqi Refugees (Article)

Elsouhag D.* , Arnetz B. , Jamil H. , Lumley M.A. , Broadbridge C.L. , Arnetz J.
  • a Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Detroit Mercy, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208, United States, Department of Health Sciences, Baker College, Clinton Township, MI, United States
  • b Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States, Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Wayne State Universtiy, Detroit, MI, United States, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  • c Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States, Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • e Division of Social Sciences, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, KY, United States
  • f Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States, Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract

Arab migrants—both immigrants and refugees—are exposed to pre- and post- migration stressors increasing their risk for health problems. Little is known, however, about rates of, or factors associated with, healthcare utilization among these two groups. A sample of 590 participants were interviewed approximately 1 year post-migration to the United States. Factors associated with healthcare utilization, including active and passive coping strategies, were examined using logistic regressions. Compared to national healthcare utilization data, immigrants had significantly lower, and refugees had significantly higher rates of healthcare utilization. Being a refugee, being married, and having health insurance were significantly associated with medical service utilization. Among refugees, less use of psychological services was associated with the use of medications and having problem-focused (active) strategies for dealing with stress. Healthcare utilization was significantly higher among refugees, who also reported a greater need for services than did immigrants. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

healthcare Stress Refugees immigrants

Index Keywords

refugee insurance health insurance mental health human epidemiology Refugees middle aged Insurance Coverage statistics and numerical data Stress, Psychological mental stress Iraq health status Adaptation, Psychological Arab ethnology Insurance, Health Arabs United States Humans migrant psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors adaptive behavior socioeconomics Transportation adult traffic and transport patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care problem solving
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84941422223&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0119-3&partnerID=40&md5=1aebd9872cdc8ee1ee02af5f35c155b6
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0119-3
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English