“Where will we find them?” They are just like droppings
摘要
Migrant populations in Botswana face multiple barriers when accessing healthcare services, yet little is known about how health promotion reaches this group. Healthcare providers are often the first point of contact for migrants, and their perspectives are critical in understanding gaps in service delivery. This study aims to explore the perceptions of health providers regarding access to health promotion for migrants.
MethodsA descriptive qualitative study based on a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews was conducted among health care providers in 8 public health clinics in two cities (Gaborone and Francistown) in Botswana. A total targeted sample of 11 health workers, 9 nurses and 2 medical doctors were interviewed about their perceptions and experiences regarding access to health promotion among migrants.
ResultsHealth care workers reported migrants’ lack of access to health information about the health system, lack of effective strategies to promote health and reach out to all migrants, failure of pregnant women to register on time, fear of migrants opening up about their health, and health policies that are not migrant inclusive. Healthcare professionals in different services face similar challenges in promoting the health of migrants. They reported that in most cases, migrants did not have sufficient access to health promotion information.
ConclusionsThis therefore necessitates the need to promote universal health coverage and adequately educate health care providers and local communities to ensure the health of the targeted migrants, so that they can make informed decisions about their health.