Por:
Soley Tatiana Moreno Nicholls
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Fecha:
2017
The Latin American population in Sweden has been increasing, and Colombians accounted for 17-24 % of the total migrant population in the last 5 years. In migration, acculturation is a process where individual changes take place as a result of contact with other culturally dissimilar people, which is known by influencing positively or negatively the health status of immigrants. Different studies have examined migration and health status, health access and barriers of consultation. However, there is a lack of information regarding immigrants’ attitudes towards health services and the influence on health-seeking behaviors.
The aim was to explore the attitudes and experiences that Colombian immigrants had in their first interaction with the primary healthcare center (Vårdcentral). More specifically, it sought to explore differences or similarities in the attitudes and experiences of the Swedish healthcare system compared those from Colombia. Consequently, eight semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with Colombian immigrants living in the south of Sweden using a snowball-sampling technique. A qualitative manifest and a latent content analysis were used for the analysis and interpretation of results.
Three themes emerged from the analysis: ‘The language: playing the same game’, referred to the relevance of language providing autonomy and connecting with the new context. ‘The Swedish healthcare system: The disillusion when starting over’, referred to the contrasting perceptions of immigrants in their first interaction with the Vårdcentral, indicating a shock that made them change their health-seeking behaviors. ‘Acculturation is like going on a long pathway’: described the transition of personal thoughts and actions with the healthcare system, which constituted steps in the process of adapting to the Swedish Culture.
Acculturation is a complex process that includes encounters with the healthcare system. Interventions, in healthcare, that facilitate immigrants to better adjust to a new society are required in order to ensure the acceptation of attitudes and practices leading to gains in health and well-being.
Fuente:
Biblioteca Virtual Banco de la República
Formatos de contenido:
Tesis
