Reducing health inequities for asylum seekers with chronic non-communicable diseases: Australian context
Gloria Nkhoma
A D , Chiao Xin Lim A , Gerard A. Kennedy A B C and Ieva Stupans A
A School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia.
B School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation University, University Drive, Mount Helen, Ballarat, Melbourne, Vic. 3350, Australia.
C Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Vic. 3084, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: gloria.nkhoma@student.rmit.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 27(2) 130-135 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20091
Submitted: 21 April 2020 Accepted: 9 November 2020 Published: 29 March 2021
Abstract
Asylum seekers are susceptible to chronic non-communicable diseases pre- and post-arrival due to poor living conditions, unhealthy lifestyles and restrictive and poor access to health services. Despite their need for constant and continuous health care access due to poor health, they face healthcare services access restrictions dependent on their visa conditions in Australia. Some visas only allow access to hospital services with restrictions on primary health services access such as GPs and free or discounted pharmaceutical products. In comparison, disadvantaged host populations have access to free/discounted pharmaceutical products and unrestricted access to primary and secondary health care. Ten professionals who constantly engage with asylum seekers in three large asylum seeker centres in Melbourne were interviewed either face-to-face or over the phone. The interviews were essential to understand how health inequities may be addressed for asylum seekers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Their recommendations, based mainly on their experience and evaluation of programs, were: (1) cultural competence training; (2) use of interpreters; (3) free access to health services and medications; (4) use of English learning to promote health literacy and community integration; (5) robust chronic non-communicable diseases screening; and (6) health promotion and accessible food programs.
Keywords: asylum seekers, asylum seeker-friendly services, chronic non-communicable diseases, cultural competence, frontline healthcare workers, health inequities.
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