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Socio-demographic and regional differences in unmet healthcare needs among migrants in Europe

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  • Lembe Kullamaa
  • Rainer Reile

Abstract

Background: Different barriers that hinder migrants’ access to healthcare may have detrimental effect on health but also contribute to health inequalities. Given the lack of evidence on unmet healthcare needs among European migrant population, the study aimed to analyse the demographic, socio-economic and health-related patterning of unmet healthcare needs among migrants in Europe. Methods: European Health Interview Survey data from 2013–2015 covering 26 countries was used to analyse associations of individual-level factors and unmet healthcare needs among migrants (n = 12,817). Prevalences and 95% confidence intervals for unmet healthcare needs were presented for geographical regions and countries. Associations between unmet healthcare needs and demographic, socio-economic, and health indicators were analysed using Poisson regression models. Results: The overall prevalence of unmet healthcare needs among migrants was 27.8% (95% CI 27.1–28.6) but the estimate varied substantially across geographical regions in Europe. Unmet healthcare needs due to cost or access were patterned by various demographic, socio-economic, and health-related indicators but higher prevalence of UHN were universally found for women, those with the lowest income, and poor health. Conclusions: While the high level of unmet healthcare needs illustrate migrants’ vulnerability to health risks, the regional variations in the prevalence estimates and individual-level predictors highlight the variations in national policies regarding migration and healthcare legislations and differences in welfare-systems across Europe in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Lembe Kullamaa & Rainer Reile, 2023. "Socio-demographic and regional differences in unmet healthcare needs among migrants in Europe," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0285886
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285886
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marzena Tambor & Jacek Klich & Alicja Domagała, 2021. "Financing Healthcare in Central and Eastern European Countries: How Far Are We from Universal Health Coverage?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-26, February.
    2. Sonja Spitzer & Daniela Weber, 2019. "Reporting biases in self-assessed physical and cognitive health status of older Europeans," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-22, October.
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