Bosnian and Soviet Refugees' Experiences with Health Care

Abstract

Studies of refugees in the United States rarely address health the first few years following resettlement in part because the refugees become subsumed under the foreign-born or immigrant category. A national study reaffirmed the so-called healthy immigrant effect, but fewer sick days and less physician use may actually reflect access problems, economic concerns, and health beliefs or practices that clash with American health care. Because statistics may mask differences in health and why people seek professional care, it is important to combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. This study examined health, illness, and health care use patterns of refugees in Northern California using a database analysis, a medical record review, and an ethnographic study of the Bosnian and former Soviet Union refugee communities. This article describes some ethnographic findings from participant observation, semistructured interviews, and focus groups, with an emphasis on people's experiences with health care, health risk behaviors, and self-care.

Refugee experiences of general practice in countries of resettlement: a literature review

“…40 Compared with non-refugee populations, refugees shared a common desire for GPs to be competent, informative, and humane. 31,41 They experienced similar problems to other migrant groups in accessing health services, language and cultural differences, and doctor-patient relationships.…”

Asylum seekers' expectations of and trust in general practice: a qualitative study

“…5,[12][13][14][15] However, these studies did not attempt to link the views of the participants to the structure of the healthcare system that they came from. This study adds to that knowledge and explores further some of the issues that may be amenable to change, if GPs and other primary care staff are aware of the reasons for these views.…”

“…11 Other studies, as well as that of the present authors, 5 show that asylum seekers and refugees have different expectations of health care, including a lack of awareness of appointment systems, unrealistic expectations of access to high-tech medicine, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and easier access to antibiotics. 5,[12][13][14][15] However, the role of previous healthcare systems in shaping these expectations has been largely unexplored.…”

The Interaction of Immigrant Culture and the Law: Focus on Parental Discretion under IDEIA of 2004

“…Others were jailed in prisons and refugee camps and had their land and personal property stolen. Scholarship has found that the traumatic events of war have often led to the onset of mental health problems in immigrant communities-including things such as the onset of posttraumatic stress disorder (Lipson, Weinstien, Gladstone, & Sarnoff, 2003). According to Olivia Miller (2000), there have been several "waves" of Bosnian immigration to the United States.…”

“…Consequently, their mistrust may lead to a reduction in or failure to use disability healthcare services (McCallion et al, 1997). In addition, Bosnian immigrants' attitudes towards Western healthcare systems are conditioned by their experiences with healthcare in their native countries (Lipson et al, 2003). Lipson et al (2003), notes that Bosnian immigrants are most familiar with a socialized form of universal healthcare provided by government.…”