Bishop Courtney Lee, Hussain Fida, Cheah Carolyn, Mahmood Mohammad Afzal
School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
Australian Refugee Association, Ann Street, Salisbury, SA, 5108, Australia.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):2196. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23368-x.
Refugees experience poor health outcomes due to challenges experienced in their home countries and during migration, which are compounded with inadequate access to and continuity of health care in host countries. In Australia, refugees frequently arrive with psychological issues, infectious diseases, and poorly managed chronic health conditions. In South Australia, many refugees are resettled in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs, an area which is economically disadvantaged and underserved by the health care system. This study aims to explore and describe the lived experience of refugees in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs, with regard to their access to comprehensive and continuous health care.
A qualitative approach was used to explore chronic illness and comprehensive care through the lens of refugees' lived experience. In 2023, nine in depth interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted with refugees living in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs. Participants were considered eligible to participate if they were a refugee with a chronic illness living in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs. Additionally, General Practitioners (GPs) with experience in refugee communities were consulted for their insight. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit the seventeen participants. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify factors influencing access to care and continuity of care.
Despite access to bulk billed appointments, interpreters, support services, and the assistance of family, refugees' health care is significantly impacted by financial constraints, language, level of care by health professionals, and appointment length. Additionally, many refugees experience problems with welfare services, logistics, ineffective care, and ambulances and the emergency system. Whilst this study focused on physical chronic health issues, access to care for mental ill-health was also established as a significant concern within the community.
This research has demonstrated a need for improved access to and continuity of care for refugees in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide. Future research should determine how interventions can address the issues highlighted by this study, and further advocacy and funding are required within the field.
由于难民在原籍国以及移民过程中面临诸多挑战，且在接收国难以获得足够的医疗保健服务以及持续的医疗护理，他们的健康状况不佳。在澳大利亚，难民抵达时往往伴有心理问题、传染病以及管理不善的慢性健康问题。在南澳大利亚州，许多难民被安置在阿德莱德北郊，该地区经济条件较差，医疗保健系统服务不足。本研究旨在探讨和描述阿德莱德北郊难民在获得全面和持续医疗保健方面的生活经历。
采用定性研究方法，通过难民的生活经历视角来探讨慢性病和综合护理。2023年，对居住在阿德莱德北郊的难民进行了9次深度访谈和1次焦点小组讨论。如果参与者是居住在阿德莱德北郊患有慢性病的难民，则被认为有资格参与。此外，还咨询了在难民社区有经验的全科医生以获取他们的见解。采用目的抽样和滚雪球抽样方法招募了17名参与者。进行主题分析以确定影响获得护理和护理连续性的因素。
尽管可以享受批量计费预约、口译服务、支持服务以及家人的帮助，但难民的医疗保健仍受到经济限制、语言障碍、医疗专业人员的护理水平以及预约时长的显著影响。此外，许多难民在福利服务、后勤、无效护理以及救护车和应急系统方面遇到问题。虽然本研究侧重于身体慢性健康问题，但获得心理健康护理也被确定为社区内的一个重大关切问题。
本研究表明，阿德莱德北郊的难民需要更好地获得医疗保健服务并实现护理的连续性。未来的研究应确定干预措施如何解决本研究中突出的问题，并且该领域需要进一步的宣传和资金支持。
