Determinants of Health Care Services Utilization among First Generation Afghan Migrants in Istanbul

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14020201
• Publication Date: 2017-02-17T17:10:34Z
• Authors: Qais Alemi; Carl Stempel; Patrick Koga; Valerie Smith; Didem Danis; Kelly Baek; Susanne Montgomery
• Keywords: Adult; Male; 330; Afghan; Andersen Model; health services; medications; migrant; Turkey; utilization; Turkey; utilization; 8.1 Organisation and delivery of services; Afghan; Toxicology; Article; Medication Adherence; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; medications; 0302 clinical medicine; Clinical Research; Health Services and Systems; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Sciences; 80 and over; Ambulatory Care; Humans; health services; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Transients and Migrants; Health Services Needs and Demand; Afghanistan; Health Services; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; 300; behavioral_sciences_other; 3. Good health; Human Society; migrant; Good Health and Well Being; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Public Health; Generic health relevance; Andersen Model; 0305 other medical science; Health and social care services research

There is insufficient empirical evidence on the correlates of health care utilization of irregular migrants currently living in Turkey. The aim of this study was to identify individual level determinants associated with health service and medication use. One hundred and fifty-five Afghans completed surveys assessing service utilization including encounters with primary care physicians and outpatient specialists in addition to the use of prescription and nonprescription medicines. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between service use and a range of predisposing, enabling, and perceived need factors. Health services utilization was lowest for outpatient specialists (20%) and highest for nonprescription medications (37%). Female gender and higher income predicted encounters with primary care physicians. Income, and other enabling factors such as family presence in Turkey predicted encounters with outpatient specialists. Perceived illness-related need factors had little to no influence on use of services; however, asylum difficulties increased the likelihood for encounters with primary care physicians, outpatient services, and the use of prescription medications. This study suggests that health services use among Afghan migrants in Turkey is low considering the extent of their perceived illness-related needs, which may be further exacerbated by the precarious conditions in which they live.