Understanding Experiences of the Swedish Health Care System from the Perspective of Newly Arrived Refugees

Overview

Journal BMC Res Notes

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Biology
General Medicine

Date 2018 Aug 30

PMID 30153861

Citations 10

Authors

Elisabeth Mangrio

Elisabeth Carlson

Slobodan Zdravkovic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Refugees seek medical advice for a variety of reasons. Previous research suggests that understanding the refugees' experiences of and access to healthcare are important factors for improving their health as access to healthcare has been found to be a leading health indicator. Therefore, the aim of this study was to illuminate experiences of the Swedish health care system from the perspective of newly arrived refugees.

Results: More than 70% of newly arrived refugees in the county of Scania were in need of health care during the last 3 months of 2015-2016. They did not seek care to the same extent as the general population. The main reasons were explained as too high costs, long waiting times and language difficulties. Some disclosed being denied access to health care for reasons, such as being denied care when seeking emergency room for stomach problems and being denied follow-up care for diabetes.

Citing Articles

Reproductive agency and the acceptability of divorce, abortion, and homosexuality among migrants from the Middle East and Africa living in Sweden-a cross-sectional analysis.

van der Kop M, Bage K, Tirado V, Kagesten A, Puranen B, Sorcher R Int J Equity Health. 2025; 24(1):53.

PMID: 39994724 PMC: 11853754. DOI: 10.1186/s12939-025-02400-x.

Working With Refugees' Health During COVID-19-The Experience of Health- and Social Care Workers in Sweden.

Mangrio E, Zdravkovic S, Strange M Front Public Health. 2022; 10:811974.

PMID: 35669746 PMC: 9163396. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.811974.

"One-time interventions, it doesn't lead to much" - healthcare provider views to improving sexual and reproductive health services for young migrants in Sweden.

Tirado V, Engberg S, Holmblad I, Stromdahl S, Ekstrom A, Hurtig A BMC Health Serv Res. 2022; 22(1):668.

PMID: 35585585 PMC: 9115984. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07945-z.

Health Care for Refugees in Europe: A Scoping Review.

Nowak A, Namer Y, Hornberg C Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(3).

PMID: 35162300 PMC: 8834962. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031278.

Health promotion focusing on migrant women through a community based participatory research approach.

Lindsjo C, Sjogren Forss K, Kumlien C, Ramgard M BMC Womens Health. 2021; 21(1):365.

PMID: 34656089 PMC: 8520311. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01506-y.

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