Olive Wahoush
This paper presents service provider perspectives about primary health care services for refugee and refugee claimant mothers when their preschool child had an acute and minor illness. Information was collected from primary health care providers in Hamilton Ontario between August 2004 and February 2006 as part of a larger study about the health of children in recently arrived refugee and refugee claimant families. Primary health care providers in this study represented the full array of primary health care services available at the time. Information included details of services available and preparation of staff to work with a diverse population including immigrants in general and refugees in particular. The main finding was that primary health care providers and staff had little or no training and preparation for working with refugee or refugee claimant families and had little understanding about health insurance or their entitlement to health care. Services were significantly reduced in number and variety after 5pm and during nights or weekends; most providers reported that they would accept refugees and fewer reported that they would accept refugee claimants as clients. The conclusion of this study was that primary health care providers need training for working with culturally diverse populations and in particular clear information about health insurance for refugee and refugee claimant families. Disparities in health care have been associated with limited cultural sensitivity, lack of knowledge or awareness of support systems including health insurance for refugees and refugee claimants and failures in understanding. These factors limit access to needed health care services and diminish the effectiveness of services provided. Recent changes to health insurance eligibility for refugees and refugee claimants are concerning as entitlements to health insurance have been reduced or eliminated.