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- Title
Access and utilization of healthcare services in Massachusetts, United States: a qualitative study of the perspectives and experiences of Brazilian-born immigrant women.
- Authors
Lindsay, Ana C.; Gonçalves de Oliveira, Mariana; Wallington, Sherrie F.; Greaney, Mary L.; Tavares Machado, Marcia Maria; Freitag Pagliuca, Lorita M.; Moura Arruda, Carlos Andre; de Oliveira, Mariana Gonçalves; Machado, Marcia Maria Tavares; Arruda, Carlos Andre Moura
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Understanding immigrants' interactions with the United States (US) healthcare system will likely make it possible to meet their healthcare needs and improve their quality of life in the US. Although challenges to accessing and utilizing healthcare in the US have been identified, there is little information specific to Brazilian-born immigrants' experiences. Brazilians comprise a fast-growing immigrant population group in the US. The purpose of this study was to explore Brazilian immigrant women's perspectives and experiences with healthcare services in the US to gain insights into factors amenable to interventions that may contribute to disparities in access to and utilization of services.<bold>Methods: </bold>Five focus groups were conducted from April to May in 2015 using a purposeful sampling of Brazilian-born immigrant women living in Massachusetts, US.<bold>Results: </bold>Thirty-five women participated in this study. Although participants expressed their overall satisfaction with the US healthcare system, they noted several barriers to care, including sociocultural differences in delivery of care and communication barriers, including inconsistent quality of interpreting services.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>This study provides new information on the experiences and challenges faced by Brazilian immigrant women in accessing and utilizing healthcare services in the US and points out opportunities for improving services and the overall health of this immigrant population. Addressing noted sociocultural differences and communication barriers including inconsistent quality of hospital's interpreting services might enhance Brazilian-born immigrants' experiences with the healthcare system.
- Subjects
UNITED States; BRAZIL; MASSACHUSETTS; MEDICAL care; HEALTH of immigrants; SOCIOCULTURAL factors; WOMEN'S health; BRAZILIANS; HEALTH; COMPARATIVE studies; FOCUS groups; HEALTH services accessibility; HEALTH status indicators; PSYCHOLOGY of immigrants; LABOR (Obstetrics); MATERNAL health services; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAID; MEDICAL cooperation; QUALITY of life; RESEARCH; QUALITATIVE research; EVALUATION research; COMMUNICATION barriers; PATIENTS' attitudes
- Publication
BMC Health Services Research, 2016, Vol 16, p1
- ISSN
1472-6963
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1186/s12913-016-1723-9