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

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.