Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland

Abstract Background The compounded effect of a migratory background and ageing increases the risk of unequal medical treatment opportunities. The aim of this article is to investigate the social determinants of barriers to health services. Methods The study uses population-based survey data of Russi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nuriiar Safarov, Laura Kemppainen, Sirpa Wrede, Anne Kouvonen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-02-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10728-3
_version_ 1797275377546035200
author Nuriiar Safarov
Laura Kemppainen
Sirpa Wrede
Anne Kouvonen
author_facet Nuriiar Safarov
Laura Kemppainen
Sirpa Wrede
Anne Kouvonen
author_sort Nuriiar Safarov
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The compounded effect of a migratory background and ageing increases the risk of unequal medical treatment opportunities. The aim of this article is to investigate the social determinants of barriers to health services. Methods The study uses population-based survey data of Russian-speaking migrants (50 + years) residing in Finland (n = 1082, 57% of men, mean age 63 years). Multiple correspondence analysis was performed as a dimension reduction procedure on six barriers to health services. Multiple ordinary least-squares linear regression was used for the predicted score of the barriers as an outcome variable. Results Most of the sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with barriers to health services, except gender, as women tended to face more disadvantages. Migration-related factors, such as the need for interpreters for health services and experienced discrimination, were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting barriers to health services. Using the internet as a primary source of health information was associated with more access barriers to health services. Conclusions Migrants 50 years of age or older face multiple barriers to health services. Given that the healthcare needs increase with age, addressing this issue becomes crucial, necessitating improved access to health services for older migrants.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T15:13:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d6a7b840895944f1856c2bf66e74549a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1472-6963
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T15:13:29Z
publishDate 2024-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Health Services Research
spelling doaj.art-d6a7b840895944f1856c2bf66e74549a2024-03-05T18:05:37ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-02-0124111010.1186/s12913-024-10728-3Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in FinlandNuriiar Safarov0Laura Kemppainen1Sirpa Wrede2Anne Kouvonen3Faculty of Social Sciences, University of HelsinkiFaculty of Social Sciences, University of HelsinkiFaculty of Social Sciences, University of HelsinkiFaculty of Social Sciences, University of HelsinkiAbstract Background The compounded effect of a migratory background and ageing increases the risk of unequal medical treatment opportunities. The aim of this article is to investigate the social determinants of barriers to health services. Methods The study uses population-based survey data of Russian-speaking migrants (50 + years) residing in Finland (n = 1082, 57% of men, mean age 63 years). Multiple correspondence analysis was performed as a dimension reduction procedure on six barriers to health services. Multiple ordinary least-squares linear regression was used for the predicted score of the barriers as an outcome variable. Results Most of the sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with barriers to health services, except gender, as women tended to face more disadvantages. Migration-related factors, such as the need for interpreters for health services and experienced discrimination, were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting barriers to health services. Using the internet as a primary source of health information was associated with more access barriers to health services. Conclusions Migrants 50 years of age or older face multiple barriers to health services. Given that the healthcare needs increase with age, addressing this issue becomes crucial, necessitating improved access to health services for older migrants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10728-3Older migrantsHealth servicesSelf-identified barriersLanguageDiscriminationMigrants
spellingShingle Nuriiar Safarov
Laura Kemppainen
Sirpa Wrede
Anne Kouvonen
Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland
BMC Health Services Research
Older migrants
Health services
Self-identified barriers
Language
Discrimination
Migrants
title Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland
title_full Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland
title_fullStr Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland
title_full_unstemmed Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland
title_short Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland
title_sort self identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older population based survey study of russian speakers in finland
topic Older migrants
Health services
Self-identified barriers
Language
Discrimination
Migrants
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10728-3
work_keys_str_mv AT nuriiarsafarov selfidentifiedbarrierstohealthservicesamongmigrants50yearsofageorolderpopulationbasedsurveystudyofrussianspeakersinfinland
AT laurakemppainen selfidentifiedbarrierstohealthservicesamongmigrants50yearsofageorolderpopulationbasedsurveystudyofrussianspeakersinfinland
AT sirpawrede selfidentifiedbarrierstohealthservicesamongmigrants50yearsofageorolderpopulationbasedsurveystudyofrussianspeakersinfinland
AT annekouvonen selfidentifiedbarrierstohealthservicesamongmigrants50yearsofageorolderpopulationbasedsurveystudyofrussianspeakersinfinland