Healthcare access for Iraqi refugee children in Texas: persistent barriers, potential solutions, and policy implications

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Abstract

To identify access barriers to healthcare and potential interventions to improve access for Iraqi refugee children. Four focus groups were conducted using consecutive sampling of Iraqi refugee parents residing in the US for 8 months to 5 years. Eight key-informant interviews also were conducted with employees of organizations serving Iraqi refugee families, recruited using snowball sampling. Focus groups and interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using margin coding and grounded theory. Iraqi refugees identified provider availability, Medicaid maintenance and renewal, language issues, and inadequate recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder as barriers to care for their children. Interviewees cited loss of case-management services and difficulties in understanding the Medicaid renewal process as barriers. Potential interventions to improve access include community-oriented efforts to educate parents on Medicaid renewal, obtaining services, and accessing specialists. Given the enduring nature of language and Medicaid renewal barriers, policies addressing eligibility alone are insufficient.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What are the impacts of case management on refugees?

While rigorous evidence is limited, the literature suggests that case management is associated with numerous positive outcomes. The body of evidence is largely suggestive in rigor and yields generally positive outcomes, although some studies show mixed results. The one available impact study yields positive results. The available studies have examined diverse outcomes such as self-sufficiency,…

About this study

AGE: Children

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: 8 months

INTERVENTION: Case management

OUTCOME AREA: Health

POPULATION: Refugees

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Middle East

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2015

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