Accès aux services sociaux et de santé en français : l’expérience des Franco-Manitobains

Abstract

Des progrès considérables sont constatés dans l’offre de services et la formation de professionnels dans le domaine des services sociaux et de santé en français au Manitoba depuis les 30 dernières années. L’objectif de cette recherche est de mieux connaître la perception des usagers quant aux services couramment disponibles et aux barrières réduisant l’accès à ces services. L’obtention de services en français est importante pour la population francophone, particulièrement pour les aînés et les immigrants. En moyenne, 50 % des répondants disent demander des services en français, mais seulement 25 % affirment les recevoir. La pénurie de professionnels pouvant offrir des services en français est considérée comme la barrière principale à l’accès. L’offre active est essentielle et facilite la prestation des services dans la langue de choix de la clientèle.Over the past 30 years considerable progress has been made with regard to the delivery of services and professional training in the area of health and social services for the French-language population of Manitoba. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the client’s perspective with respect to access and obstacles preventing access to these services. Services in French are important, particularly for elderly and immigrant clients. On average, half of the participants request services in French, but only one quarter report receiving them. A shortage of professionals able to provide services in French is perceived as the greatest barrier to access. A pro-active approach is essential to provide care to the client in his or her language of choice

Impact of Language Barriers on Quality of Care and Patient Safety for Official Language Minority Francophones in Canada

“…Recruitment, training, and retention of professionals fluent in French have also been promoted as the primary strategy to increase provision of French language services (FLSs) (52,53). Shortage of bilingual health professionals (44,53), however, results in inconsistency or unavailability of language concordant services. To facilitate access to FLSs, providers are encouraged to practice active offer (54).…”

“…The official minority language (OML) speakers in these regions are Francophones; they represent 3.8% of the population, although this percentage reaches 32% in 1 province (New Brunswick); it is consistently lower in other provinces and territories (42). Studies have shown that minority Francophones are at greater risk of poor health (43) and have poorer access to health care (43 –45).…”

Impact of language barriers on access to healthcare for official language minority Francophones in Canada

“…In Canada, efforts to promote recruitment, training, and retention of professionals fluent in French have been promoted as the primary strategy to increase provision of French language services (FLS). 14,15 Shortage of bilingual health professionals, 16,17 however, means that language concordant services are not consistently available. To facilitate access to FLS, providers are encouraged to practice active offer (note 1).…”

Management strategies to improve French language service coordination and continuity for official language Francophone seniors in Canada

“…Findings relative to barriers to FLS delivery are consistent with previous research. [18][19][20] Financial constraints, shortage of bilingual staff, and limited resources for translation and interpretation services are significant barriers. Distinct strategies are needed to recruit bilingual healthcare providers 20 and train interpreters 38 in official language minority communities.…”

“…Active offer is defined as a range of health services available in French and offered proactively; they are clearly announced, visible, and easily accessible at all times (note 1). Providing FLS in linguistic minority communities is challenging, with shortage of bilingual staff, poor identification of Francophone clients and professionals, limited support to practice active offer, 18,19 and few recruitment and retention strategies aimed specifically at bilingual personnel. 20 Furthermore, even in cases of FLS availability, fragmentation in linguistic continuity of care is reported when several service providers participate in service delivery.…”