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Baauw A, Brouwers CFS, Afshar SF, van Goudoever JB, Chinapaw MJM, Hoogsteder MHH. Perspectives of refugee parents and unaccompanied minors on initial health assessment and access to care. Eur J Pediatr 2024:10.1007/s00431-024-05523-5. [PMID: 38589580 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05523-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
To explore the needs, expectations, and experiences of asylum-seeking parents and unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 years on the initial health assessment for children and adolescents and access to care upon entry in the Netherlands, We conducted five semi-structured focus group discussions with asylum-seeking parents and unaccompanied minors, from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and other Middle-East and African countries, supported by professional interpreters. To triangulate findings, semi-structured interviews with health care professionals involved in care for refugee children were conducted. Transcripts of focus group discussions were inductively and deductively coded and content analyzed; transcripts of interviews were deductively coded and content analyzed. In total, 31 asylum-seeking participants: 23 parents of 101 children (between 0 and 18 years old), 8 unaccompanied minors (between 15 and 17 years), and 6 healthcare professionals participated. Parents and minors expressed that upon entry, their needs were met for vaccinations, but not for screening or care for physical and mental health problems. Parents, minors, and health professionals emphasized the necessity of appropriate information and education about health, diseases, and the health system. Cultural change was mentioned as stressful for the parent-child interaction and parental well-being. Conclusion: The perspectives of refugee parents and unaccompanied minors revealed opportunities to improve the experience of and access to health care of refugees entering the Netherlands, especially risk-specific screening and more adequate education about health, diseases, and the Dutch health care system. What is Known: • Refugees have specific health needs due to pre-flight, flight, and resettlement conditions. Health assessment upon entry was non-obligatory in the Netherlands, except for the tuberculosis screening. Health needs were not always met, and refugees experienced barriers in access to care. What is New: • The initial health assessment met the needs concerning vaccinations but mismatched the needs regarding physical and mental health assessment. Screening for specific risk-related diseases and mental health could enable refugee parents and minors to engage better with the health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albertine Baauw
- Amsterdam UMC, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Institute, University of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Training Institute Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Dutch Society of Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Chanine F S Brouwers
- Department Health and Society, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sogol Fathi Afshar
- Amsterdam UMC, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes B van Goudoever
- Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Institute, University of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mai J M Chinapaw
- Training Institute Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Dutch Society of Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mariëtte H H Hoogsteder
- Amsterdam UMC, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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