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Access to Healthcare for Immigrant Children in Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Bukola Salami

    (Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Alleson Mason

    (Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Jordana Salma

    (Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Sophie Yohani

    (Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada)

  • Maryam Amin

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada)

  • Philomena Okeke-Ihejirika

    (Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada)

  • Tehseen Ladha

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada)

Abstract

Immigrants experience poorer health outcomes than nonimmigrants in Canada for several reasons. A central contributing factor to poor health outcomes for immigrants is access to healthcare. Previous research on access to healthcare for immigrants has largely focused on the experience of immigrant adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate how immigrants access health services for their children in Alberta, Canada. Our study involved a descriptive qualitative design. Upon receiving ethics approval from the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board, we invited immigrant parents to participate in this study. We interviewed 50 immigrant parents, including 17 fathers and 33 mothers. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to the themes that emerged. Findings reveal that systemic barriers contributed to challenges in accessing healthcare for immigrant children. Participants identified several of these barriers—namely, system barriers, language and cultural barriers, relationship with health professionals, and financial barriers. These barriers can be addressed by policymakers and service providers by strengthening the diversity of the workforce, addressing income as a social determinant of health, and improving access to language interpretation services.

Suggested Citation

  • Bukola Salami & Alleson Mason & Jordana Salma & Sophie Yohani & Maryam Amin & Philomena Okeke-Ihejirika & Tehseen Ladha, 2020. "Access to Healthcare for Immigrant Children in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:3320-:d:356195
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lum, Irene D. & Swartz, Rebecca H. & Kwan, Matthew Y.W., 2016. "Accessibility and use of primary healthcare for immigrants living in the Niagara Region," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 73-79.
    2. Emmanuel Ngwakongnwi & Brenda R. Hemmelgarn & Richard Musto & Hude Quan & Kathryn M. King-Shier, 2012. "Experiences of French Speaking Immigrants and Non-immigrants Accessing Health Care Services in a Large Canadian City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Lasser, K.E. & Himmelstein, D.U. & Woolhandler, S., 2006. "Access to care, health status, and health disparities in the United States and Canada: Results of a Cross-National Population Based Survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(7), pages 1300-1307.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Rishworth & Tiffany Cao & Ashika Niraula & Kathi Wilson, 2022. "Health Care Use and Barriers to Care for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (CID) among First and Second Generation South Asian Immigrant Children and Parents in Ontario Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Rana Dahlan & Babak Bohlouli & Humam Saltaji & Ida Kornerup & Bukola Salami & Maryam Amin, 2022. "Immigrant Parents’ Perceived Social Support and Their Children’s Oral Health Behaviors and Caries Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.

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