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Evaluating the Provision of Health Services and Barriers to Treatment for Chronic Diseases among Syrian Refugees in Turkey: A Review of Literature and Stakeholder Interviews

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  • Jude Alawa

    (Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA)

  • Parmida Zarei

    (Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA)

  • Kaveh Khoshnood

    (Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA)

Abstract

Background: While Turkey hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, the provision of health services for chronic disease among Syrian refugees in Turkey has been inadequate and understudied. This paper explores Turkish healthcare policies surrounding Syrian refugees’ access to health services for chronic diseases. Methods: We conducted a literature review and supplementary stakeholder interviews to evaluate the provision of chronic health services and the most common barriers to healthcare access among Syrian refugees in Turkey. Results: Though access to treatment for displaced Syrians has improved throughout the past five years, five primary barriers persist: registration procedure regulations, navigation of a new health system, language barriers, fear of adverse treatment, and cost. Conclusions: To drive improvements in healthcare for chronic diseases among Syrian refugees in Turkey, we recommend making registration procedures more accessible, developing more healthcare options in patients’ native language, increasing human resources, and advocating for more research surrounding chronic health conditions among refugees.

Suggested Citation

  • Jude Alawa & Parmida Zarei & Kaveh Khoshnood, 2019. "Evaluating the Provision of Health Services and Barriers to Treatment for Chronic Diseases among Syrian Refugees in Turkey: A Review of Literature and Stakeholder Interviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:15:p:2660-:d:251601
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Basak Bilecen & Dilara Yurtseven, 2018. "Temporarily protected Syrians’ access to the healthcare system in Turkey: Changing policies and remaining challenges," Migration Letters, Migration Letters, vol. 15(1), pages 113-124, January.
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    5. Shannon Doocy & Emily Lyles & Laila Akhu-Zaheya & Ann Burton & William Weiss, 2016. "Health service utilization and access to medicines among Syrian refugee children in Jordan," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 97-112, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruhnke, Simon A. & Hertner, Laura & Köhler, Judith & Kluge, Ulrike, 2024. "Social ecological determinants of the mental distress among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Turkey: A transnational perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    2. Ali Timucin Atayoglu & Yagmur Firat & Nese Kaya & Eda Basmisirli & Asli Gizem Capar & Yusuf Aykemat & Rumeysa Atayolu & Hammad Khan & Ayten Guner Atayoglu & Neriman Inanc, 2023. "Evaluation of Nutritional Status with Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) of Syrian Refugees Living Outside the Refugee Camps," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Lupieri, Sigrid, 2022. "‘Vulnerable’ but not ‘Valuable’: Older refugees and perceptions of deservingness in medical humanitarianism," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).

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