School of Nursing, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Sep 2;22(1):1114. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08494-1.
Hill tribe children, an ethnic minority group in Thailand, experience wide-ranging social and health inequalities. Previous reports indicate that hill tribe children, especially age under 5 years, face social health disadvantages but little is known about the underlying causes. Exploring healthcare utilization among hill tribe children is therefore essential and it may well provide some insight.
A qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling techniques to recruit participants based on our criteria. In-depth interviews and focus-group discussions were employed to explore the experiences of parents (n = 20), community leaders (n = 20), and healthcare providers (n = 20) when caring for children aged under 5 years. Interview transcripts were coded, and thematic analysis was then performed.
The participants shared their experiences with accessing healthcare services in underserved areas. Barriers to access was the central theme identified. Sub-themes included: (1) distance matters, (2) education and socioeconomic deprivation, (3) lack of cultural sensitivity, (4) communication problems, (5) tradition, beliefs, and differences in cultural practice, (6) lack of child health professionals, and (7) bureaucratic hurdles.
Healthcare services and environments must be transformed to provide healthcare services, education, and information appropriate to the cultures and beliefs prevalent in the hill tribe population.
泰国的山地部落儿童是一个少数民族群体，他们面临着广泛的社会和健康不平等。先前的报告表明，山地部落儿童，尤其是 5 岁以下的儿童，面临着社会健康方面的劣势，但对于其背后的原因知之甚少。因此，探索山地部落儿童的医疗保健利用情况至关重要，这可能会提供一些深入的了解。
本研究采用目的性抽样技术，根据我们的标准招募参与者进行定性研究。通过深入访谈和焦点小组讨论，探讨了照顾 5 岁以下儿童的父母（n=20）、社区领袖（n=20）和医疗保健提供者（n=20）的经验。对访谈记录进行编码，然后进行主题分析。
参与者分享了他们在服务不足地区获得医疗保健服务的经验。获取障碍是确定的核心主题。子主题包括：（1）距离问题，（2）教育和社会经济贫困，（3）缺乏文化敏感性，（4）沟通问题，（5）传统、信仰和文化习俗差异，（6）缺乏儿童健康专业人员，以及（7）官僚障碍。
医疗保健服务和环境必须转变，以提供适合山地部落人口的文化和信仰的医疗保健服务、教育和信息。
