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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Discrimination accessing to health care services: Feelings of migrants and misunderstandings of professionals

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Abstract Discrimination against migrants in healthcare settings and also the negative impact of this discrimination on their health are well documented. These experiences of discrimination may present a barrier to accessing or seeking appropriate health care. For this reason, the Mig-HealthCare project aimed to study the perceived feeling of discrimination against migrants and explore the perception of community members regarding health-related issues about migrants. In order to answer both questions, based on a mix-methods design, the Mig-Healthcare consortium collected data from 1,286 questionnaires completed by migrants/refugees in 10 EU countries and carried out 6 focus groups and 5 individual interviews in 7 countries. Quantitative results show increased levels of mental health-related symptoms among migrants/refugees as well as dental health problems. The majority of respondents in all countries of the interview, needed more information about their rights and the way to use the health care services, while in Greece migrants showed the biggest need for more information about several health topics. Moreover, qualitative results pointed out the presence of deeply rooted misconceptions towards migrants and refugees that span across different thematic areas: migrants and refugees represent a vector for the transmission of new or eradicated diseases and a burden for the already overstretched welfare system since they often demand preferential pathways to health or social services at the expenses of the local population. Implications for the quality of healthcare services available for migrants/refugees are discussed as well as health issues which are of particular importance to this population. Feelings of discrimination and the extent to which they influence the quality of care received are analysed in combination with health being a basic human right to which need to all people have equal rights.