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Determinants of Health Care Services Utilization among First Generation Afghan Migrants in Istanbul

Author

Listed:
  • Qais Alemi

    (Department of Social Work & Social Ecology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, 1898 Business Center Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USA)

  • Carl Stempel

    (Department of Sociology and Social Services, California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542, USA)

  • Patrick Marius Koga

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, UCD School of Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Med Sci 1-C, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Valerie Smith

    (Department of Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542, USA)

  • Didem Danis

    (Department of Sociology, Galatasaray University, Istanbul 34349, Turkey)

  • Kelly Baek

    (Department of Social Work & Social Ecology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, 1898 Business Center Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USA)

  • Susanne Montgomery

    (Department of Social Work & Social Ecology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, 1898 Business Center Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USA)

Abstract

There is insufficient empirical evidence on the correlates of health care utilization of irregular migrants currently living in Turkey. The aim of this study was to identify individual level determinants associated with health service and medication use. One hundred and fifty-five Afghans completed surveys assessing service utilization including encounters with primary care physicians and outpatient specialists in addition to the use of prescription and nonprescription medicines. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between service use and a range of predisposing, enabling, and perceived need factors. Health services utilization was lowest for outpatient specialists (20%) and highest for nonprescription medications (37%). Female gender and higher income predicted encounters with primary care physicians. Income, and other enabling factors such as family presence in Turkey predicted encounters with outpatient specialists. Perceived illness-related need factors had little to no influence on use of services; however, asylum difficulties increased the likelihood for encounters with primary care physicians, outpatient services, and the use of prescription medications. This study suggests that health services use among Afghan migrants in Turkey is low considering the extent of their perceived illness-related needs, which may be further exacerbated by the precarious conditions in which they live.

Suggested Citation

  • Qais Alemi & Carl Stempel & Patrick Marius Koga & Valerie Smith & Didem Danis & Kelly Baek & Susanne Montgomery, 2017. "Determinants of Health Care Services Utilization among First Generation Afghan Migrants in Istanbul," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:2:p:201-:d:90707
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Grochtdreis & Hans-Helmut König & Judith Dams, 2021. "Health Care Services Utilization of Persons with Direct, Indirect and without Migration Background in Germany: A Longitudinal Study Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Jimmy T. Efird & Pollie Bith-Melander, 2018. "Refugee Health: An Ongoing Commitment and Challenge," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-3, January.
    3. Jiaoli Cai & Denise N. Guerriere & Hongzhong Zhao & Peter C. Coyte, 2017. "Socioeconomic Differences in and Predictors of Home-Based Palliative Care Health Service Use in Ontario, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, July.

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