JP Stroke Foundation

Immigrants have faced a lot of significant barriers and challenges in several different aspects, but healthcare is one of the major ones. Different demographics go through different experiences; as such let’s dive into the healthcare barriers African immigrants face. There are several different healthcare issues that black immigrants face and these include lack of health insurance, discrimination, doctors lacking understanding with regard to African perspectives on illness [3]. They also have lower than recommended cancer screening rates which lead to higher rates of death when compared to other ethnic groups [1]. On top of this, African immigrants are underrepresented in a lot of research, leading to inaccurate data and thus disproportionate understanding of their medical needs [1]. This is due to African immigrants being included in the “black” category which includes other similar looking groups [2]. However, grouping individuals strictly based off phenotype (skin color) creates disparities, as coming from different countries could have a huge influence on the kind of medical attention an individual needs. It is important to understand that the healthcare experiences of African immigrants are not the same and it is essential to understand those differences.

Aside from these barriers, there is also stigma in the African community when it comes to certain subjects such as sexual health and mental health [2]. These stigmas may stop individuals from getting tested or visiting a doctor. It has also been noted that African immigrants often lack access to healthcare providers that are able to relate to them culturally [2]. This discourages them from seeking medical attention or any help, which further complicates their positionality within the healthcare system.

There are interventions that can be implemented to try and overcome these barriers but it is important to keep in mind that the interventions are not specific to only black immigrants but also to the diverse cultures within that group [3]. For example, healthcare could be provided in some African and Caribbean languages. Along with this, society needs to continue working to eliminate discrimination so that healthcare is accessible to everyone equitably. It is also important to help raise awareness within African communities regarding certain healthcare subjects to break the stigma surrounding them. This could also be provided by medical professionals that share similar cultures and backgrounds, which would further encourage African Immigrant communities to listen and have an open mind. Finally, in addressing lower screening rates, it would be beneficial if healthcare professionals made it a point to discuss different diseases and illnesses with their patients with each visit. This way, African immigrant patients would be further exposed and knowledgeable about prevalent illnesses and would be more alert to any possible correlating symptoms. In doing so, they will seek medical attention if they feel that they need it and would not ignore any symptoms. Furthermore, researchers need to focus on proper representation of African immigrants in research and incorporate African immigrants’ medical experiences.

Author: Priya Amin

References

1. Adekeye, O.A., Adesuyi, B.F. & Takon, J.G. Barriers to Healthcare among African Immigrants in Georgia, USA. J Immigrant Minority Health 20, 188–193 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0549-9

2. Omenka, O.I., Watson, D.P. & Hendrie, H.C. Understanding the healthcare experiences and needs of African immigrants in the United States: a scoping review. BMC Public Health 20, 27 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8127-9

3. Wafula, E.G., Snipes, S.A. Barriers to Health Care Access Faced by Black Immigrants in the US: Theoretical Considerations and Recommendations. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 689–698 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9898-1