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Multicenter Study
. 2018 Jun-Jul;50(6):368-376.
doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2017.05.011. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

[How do immigrant women access health services in the Basque Country? Perceptions of health professionals]

[Article in Spanish]
Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales  1 , Isabel Goicolea  2
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

[How do immigrant women access health services in the Basque Country? Perceptions of health professionals]

[Article in Spanish]
Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales et al. Aten Primaria. 2018 Jun-Jul.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To determine the perception of health professionals working in alternative health centres on the barriers and facilitators in the access by immigrant women to general public health services and sexual and reproductive health in the Basque Country.

Location: Basque Country.

Design: Analysis of qualitative content based on 11 individual interviews.

Participants: Health professionals working in alternative health centres of Primary Care and sexual and reproductive health.

Method: Data collection was performed between September and December 2015 in four alternative health centres. After transcription, the units of meaning, codes and categories were identified.

Results: Four categories emerged from the analysis, which represented how the characteristics of immigrant women (Tell me how you are and I will tell you how to access), the attitude of the administrative and health staff ("When they are already taken care of"), the functioning of the health system (Inflexible, passive and needs-responsive health system), and health policies ("If you do not meet the requirements, you do not go in. The law is the law") influence access to health services of immigrant women.

Conclusions: This study shows that there are a considerable number of barriers and few facilitators to the access by immigrant women to public health and sexual and reproductive health services in the Basque Country. The alternative health centres were presented as favouring the improvement of the health of the immigrant population and in their access.

Objetivo: Explorar la percepción de las profesionales sanitarias que trabajan en centros sanitarios alternativos sobre las barreras y los facilitadores en el acceso de las mujeres inmigrantes a los servicios sanitarios públicos generales y de salud sexual y reproductiva en el País Vasco.

Emplazamiento: País Vasco.

Diseño: Análisis de contenido cualitativo basado en 11 entrevistas individuales.

Participantes: Profesionales sanitarias que trabajan en centros sanitarios alternativos de atención primaria y salud sexual y reproductiva.

Método: La recolección de datos se realizó entre septiembre y diciembre de 2015 en cuatro centros sanitarios alternativos. Tras su transcripción, se identificaron unidades de significado, códigos y categorías.

Resultados: Del análisis emergieron cuatro categorías que representan cómo las características de las mujeres inmigrantes (Dime cómo eres y te diré cómo accedes), la actitud del personal administrativo y sanitario («Cuando ya les atienden, estupendamente. El problema está con los administrativos»), el funcionamiento del sistema sanitario (Sistema de salud inflexible, pasivo y receptor de necesidades) y las políticas sanitarias («Si no cumples los requisitos, pues no entras. La ley es la ley») influyen en el acceso a los servicios sanitarios públicos de las mujeres inmigrantes.

Conclusiones: Este estudio indica que hay un considerable número de barreras y pocos facilitadores en el acceso de las mujeres inmigrantes a los servicios sanitarios públicos y de salud sexual y reproductiva en el País Vasco. Los centros sanitarios alternativos se presentaron como favorecedores en la mejora de la salud de la población inmigrante y en su acceso.

Keywords: Accesibilidad a los servicios de salud; Alternative health centres; Consultas sanitarias alternativas; Health services accessibility; Immigrant women; Investigación cualitativa; Mujeres inmigrantes; Qualitative research; Salud sexual; Servicios de salud para mujeres; Sexual health; Women's health services.

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