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Access to Healthcare for Migrant Patients in Europe: Healthcare Discrimination and Translation Services

Author

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  • Alejandro Gil-Salmerón

    (Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    International Foundation for Integrated Care, Oxford OX2 6UD, UK)

  • Konstantinos Katsas

    (Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 15125 Marousi, Greece)

  • Elena Riza

    (Department of Hygiene Epidemiology, Medical Statistics Medical School National, Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Pania Karnaki

    (Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 15125 Marousi, Greece)

  • Athena Linos

    (Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis, 15125 Marousi, Greece)

Abstract

Background: Discrimination based on ethnicity and the lack of translation services in healthcare have been identified as main barriers to healthcare access. However, the actual experiences of migrant patients in Europe are rarely present in the literature. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess healthcare discrimination as perceived by migrants themselves and the availability of translation services in the healthcare systems of Europe. Methods: A total of 1407 migrants in 10 European Union countries (consortium members of the Mig-HealthCare project) were surveyed concerning healthcare discrimination, access to healthcare services, and need of translation services using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Migrants in three countries were excluded from the analysis, due to small sample size, and the new sample consisted of N = 1294 migrants. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the risk factors on perceived healthcare discrimination for migrants and refugees in the EU. Results: Mean age was 32 (±11) years and 816 (63.26%) participants were males. The majority came from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, and Iran. Older migrants reported better treatment experience. Migrants in Italy (0.191; 95% CI [0.029, 0.352]) and Austria (0.167; 95% CI [0.012, 0.323]) scored higher in the Discrimination Scale to Medical Settings (DMS) compared with Spain. Additionally, migrants with better mental health scored lower in the DMS scale (0.994; 95% CI [0.993, 0.996]), while those with no legal permission in Greece tended to perceive more healthcare discrimination compared with migrants with some kind of permission (1.384; 95% CI [1.189, 1.611]), as opposed to Austria (0.763; 95% CI [0.632, 0.922]). Female migrants had higher odds of needing healthcare assistance but not being able to access them compared with males (1.613; 95% CI [1.183, 2.199]). Finally, migrants with chronic problems had the highest odds of needing and not having access to healthcare services compared with migrants who had other health problems (3.292; 95% CI [1.585, 6.837]). Conclusions: Development of culturally sensitive and linguistically diverse healthcare services should be one of the main aims of relevant health policies and strategies at the European level in order to respond to the unmet needs of the migrant population.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro Gil-Salmerón & Konstantinos Katsas & Elena Riza & Pania Karnaki & Athena Linos, 2021. "Access to Healthcare for Migrant Patients in Europe: Healthcare Discrimination and Translation Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:7901-:d:601634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elena Riza & Pania Karnaki & Alejandro Gil-Salmerón & Konstantina Zota & Maxwell Ho & Maria Petropoulou & Konstantinos Katsas & Jorge Garcés-Ferrer & Athena Linos, 2020. "Determinants of Refugee and Migrant Health Status in 10 European Countries: The Mig-HealthCare Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Cuffee, Y.L. & Hargraves, J.L. & Rosal, M. & Briesacher, B.A. & Schoenthaler, A. & Person, S. & Hullett, S. & Allison, J., 2013. "Reported racial discrimination, trust in physicians, and medication adherence among inner-city African Americans with hypertension," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(11), pages 55-62.
    3. Shavers, V.L. & Fagan, P. & Jones, D. & Klein, W.M.P. & Boyington, J. & Moten, C. & Rorie, E., 2012. "The state of research on racial/ethnic discrimination in the receipt of health care," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(5), pages 953-966.
    4. Maureen R Benjamins & Megan Middleton, 2019. "Perceived discrimination in medical settings and perceived quality of care: A population-based study in Chicago," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
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    2. Consuelo Cruz-Riveros & Alfonso Urzúa & Carolina Lagos & Evelyn Parada, 2024. "Intention to Use Primary Healthcare Services among South–South Migrants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Niraula, Ashika & Ratti, Nicole & Colley, Michele & Rosenberg, Mark & Ghassemi, Effat & Wilson, Kathi, 2023. "Negotiating precarity: Recent immigrants’ perceptions of waiting for public healthcare in Ontario, Canada," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Biesiada, Aleksander & Mastalerz-Migas, Agnieszka & Babicki, Mateusz, 2023. "Response to provide key health services to Ukrainian refugees: The overview and implementation studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    5. Madsen, Julian & Jobson, Laura & Slewa-Younan, Shameran & Li, Haoxiang & King, Kylie, 2024. "Mental health literacy among Arab men living in high-income Western countries: A systematic review and narrative synthesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    6. Carolyne Njue & Nick Nicholas & Hamish Robertson & Angela Dawson, 2021. "Geographical Access to Child and Family Healthcare Services and Hospitals for Africa-Born Migrants and Refugees in NSW, Australia; A Spatial Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-13, December.

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