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Immigrant women’s perceptions and experiences of health care services: Insights from a focus group study

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Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to describe perceptions and experiences related to access and utilization of health care services of African and Brazilian immigrant women in Portugal.

Subjects and methods

Six focus groups were conducted with 35 African and Brazilian women with low income and living in Lisbon, chosen through purposive sampling. Content analysis was undertaken through identification of themes and categories.

Results

African and Brazilian women expressed different perceptions and patterns of use of health care services. Most participants pointed out several barriers to access and utilization of services related to legal issues, economic constraints or health professionals’ attitudes.

Conclusion

These results highlight the challenges to providing health care within a multicultural setting and the need to assure the provision of integrated and comprehensive health care services. Improving access to general health care is essential in order to minimize disadvantages from vulnerable subgroups, like immigrant women. Supporting better integration into the health system may lead to improved health outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (IME/SAU-ESA/81760/2006). The authors wish to thank to all women who participated in the study for sharing their life experiences, perspectives and opinions. The authors wish to acknowledge valuable feedback and reviews provided by Prof. Gilles Dussault.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine & Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 96, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal

    Sónia Dias & Ana Gama

  2. Brazil Lutheran University, Rua Irmão José Otão, 170 – Apto. 905, CEP: 90035-060, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Cristianne Rocha

Authors
  1. Sónia Dias
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  2. Ana Gama
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  3. Cristianne Rocha
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Correspondence to Sónia Dias.

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Dias, S., Gama, A. & Rocha, C. Immigrant women’s perceptions and experiences of health care services: Insights from a focus group study. J Public Health 18, 489–496 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0326-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0326-x

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