Article Text
Abstract
Objective The study aimed to explore the experience of male members of a rapidly grown community of Bangladeshi immigrants while accessing primary healthcare (PHC) services in Canada.
Design A qualitative research was conducted among a sample of Bangladeshi immigrant men through a community-based participatory research approach. Focus group discussions were conducted to collect the qualitative data where thematic analysis was applied.
Setting The focus group discussions were held in various community centres such as individual meeting rooms at public libraries, community halls and so on arranged in collaboration with community organisations while ensuring complete privacy.
Participant Thirty-eight adults, Bangladeshi immigrant men, living in Calgary were selected for this study and participated in six different focus groups. The sample represents mostly married, educated, Muslim, Bangla speaking, aged over 25 years, full-time or self-employed and living in an urban centre in Canada >5 years.
Result The focus groups have highlighted long wait time as an important barrier. Long wait at the emergency room, difficulties to get access to general physicians when feeling sick, slow referral process and long wait at the clinic even after making an appointment impact their daily chores, work and access to care. Language is another important barrier that impedes effective communication between physicians and immigrant patients, thus the quality of care. Unfamiliarity with the healthcare system and lack of resources were also voiced that hinder access to healthcare for immigrant Bangladeshi men in Canada. However, no gender-specific barriers unique to men have been identified in this study.
Conclusion The barriers to accessing PHC services for Bangladeshi immigrant men are similar to that of other visible minority immigrants. It is important to recognise the extent of barriers across various immigrant groups to effectively shape public policy and improve access to PHC.
- primary health care
- public health
- qualitative research
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Footnotes
Twitter @drturin
Contributors TCT, NR and ML conceived research study and designed the methods for the study. ML, NR and TCT conducted initial community engagement and mobilisation initiatives for participant recruitment and facilitated the arrangements of the focus group discussions. RR and MF conducted the focus group discussions and compiled the field notes. AR transcribed and translated the focus group discussions. RR and TCT analysed and interpreted the data. ML, NR, AR and NR helped contextualisation of the interpretation by employing the ethno-cultural lens. TCT, IN, RR and MF drafted the manuscript. ML, NR, AR and NR critically appraised the draft for intellectual contribution.
Funding This research was supported by the funding from Canadian Institute of Health Research (201612PEG-384033), Department of Family Medicine in University of Calgary, and Alberta Health Services.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Ethics approval The study was reviewed and approved by the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board of University of Calgary before commencing any research activity (Ethics ID: REB15-2325).
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement No data are available.