Access to healthcare and alternative health-seeking strategies among undocumented migrants in Denmark

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Allan Krasnik¹  Dan Biswas¹  Marie Norredam¹  Maria Kristiansen¹ 

[1] Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, DK-1014, Copenhagen, Denmark;

关键词: European Union;    Healthcare Professional;    Home Country;    Informal Network;    European Union Member State;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-11-560

 received in 2011-02-03, accepted in 2011-07-13,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAs in many European countries, undocumented migrants in Denmark have restricted access to healthcare. The aim of this study is to describe and analyse undocumented migrants' experiences of access to healthcare, use of alternative health-seeking strategies; and ER nurses' experiences in encounters with undocumented migrants.MethodsQualitative design using semi-structured interviews and observations. The participants included ten undocumented South Asian migrants and eight ER nurses.ResultsUndocumented migrants reported difficulties accessing healthcare. The barriers to healthcare were: limited medical rights, arbitrariness in healthcare professionals' attitudes, fear of being reported to the police, poor language skills, lack of network with Danish citizens, lack of knowledge about the healthcare system and lack of knowledge about informal networks of healthcare professionals. These barriers induced alternative health-seeking strategies, such as self-medication, contacting doctors in home countries and borrowing health insurance cards from Danish citizens. ER nurses expressed willingness to treat all patients regardless of their migratory status, but also reported challenges in the encounters with undocumented migrants. The challenges for ER nurses were: language barriers, issues of false identification, insecurities about the correct standard procedures and not always being able to provide appropriate care.ConclusionsUndocumented migrants face formal and informal barriers to the Danish healthcare system, which lead to alternative health-seeking strategies that may have adverse effects on their health. This study shows the need for policies and guidelines, which in accordance with international human rights law, ensure access to healthcare for undocumented migrants and give clarity to healthcare professionals.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Biswas et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011