CHRONİC DİSEASE EXPERİENCE OF İMMİGRANT WOMEN OF TURKİSH ORİGİN İN SWİTZERLAND: A QUALİTATİVE STUDY

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 114 - 128, 05.06.2024

Tevfik Bayram , Sibel Sakarya

https://doi.org/10.35232/estudamhsd.1432980

Abstract

Immigrant women of Turkish origin in Switzerland face a higher burden of chronic diseases and encounter challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare. Despite this, there is a notable gap in studies investigating their healthcare experiences. This study aims to scrutinize the encounters of Turkish women with chronic diseases within the Swiss healthcare system. Twelve in-depth interviews, averaging 70 minutes, were carried out with first-generation migrant women of Turkish origin. The interviews were conducted in Turkish, and audio recorded. The gathered data underwent thematic analysis utilizing Levesque's model of health service access. The average age of the participants was 53.2 (42-71), and the average length of stay in Switzerland was 23.5 years (1.5-45). Most (9/12) were primary or secondary school graduates; and 11 experienced multiple chronic conditions (most commonly chronic pain and psychiatric disorders). The themes related to access were language/culture, gender roles, stigma/discrimination, and immigration experience/duration. Gender equality emerged as a significant and positive theme in the experiences of Turkish immigrant women within the Swiss healthcare system. Conversely, poor working conditions and various social factors contributed to the development of chronic diseases. Health professionals frequently attributing health issues to homesickness often resulted in unmet health needs. Particularly during the early stages of migration, significant challenges in accessing healthcare arose due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with the system. Therefore, interventions targeting early stages of migration and early stages of chronic illness seem crucial for protection and improvement of the health of immigrant women of Turkish origin in Switzerland.

Keywords

Chronic disease, migration, migrant women, health services, access

İSVİÇRE’DE YAŞAYAN TÜRKİYE KÖKENLİ GÖÇMEN KADINLARIN KRONİK HASTALIK DENEYİMİ: NİTELİKSEL BİR ÇALIŞMA

Abstract

İsviçre’de, Türkiye kökenli göçmen kadınların daha fazla kronik hastalık yüküne sahip oldukları ve yeterli bakımı almada dezavantajlı oldukları bilinmektedir. Fakat bu popülasyonun deneyimlerini derinlemesine inceleyen sınırlı sayıda çalışma yapılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, İsviçre’de yaşayan ve kronik hastalığı olan Türkiye kökenli kadınların İsviçre sağlık sistemi ile ilgili deneyimlerini derinlemesine incelemektir. Bern ve Cenevre şehirlerinde, maksimum varyasyon stratejisi kullanılarak, 18 yaşından büyük, kronik hastalığı olan Türkiye kökenli 12 ilk nesil göçmen kadınla derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Görüşmeler, kadın bir araştırıcı tarafından, Türkçe olarak gerçekleştirilmiş; biri hariç ses kaydı alınmış; ortalama 70 (45-103) dakika sürmüştür. Veriler Levesque’in sağlık hizmetlerine erişim modeli kullanılarak, tematik analiz ile değerlendirilmiştir. Görüşülen kişilerin yaş ortalaması 53,2 (42-71), İsviçre'de ortalama kalış süresi 23,5 yıldır (1,5-45). Çoğu (9/12) ilk veya ortaokul mezunudur; 11’inin çoklu kronik hastalığı bulunmaktadır (en sık kronik ağrı ve psikiyatrik bozukluklar). Kronik hastalığı olan Türkiye kökenli göçmen kadınların sağlık hizmetlerine erişimini etkileyen ana konular şöyle bulunmuştur: dil/kültür, toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri, damgalama/ayrımcılık; ve göçmenlik deneyimi/süresi. Türkiye kökenli göçmen kadınların, İsviçre sağlık sistemi ile ilgili deneyimlerinde, toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğinin önemli ve olumlu bir tema olarak ortaya çıktığı görülmektedir. Öte yandan, olumsuz çalışma koşulları ve diğer sosyal faktörlerin kronik hastalığın ortaya çıkmasında belirleyici olduğu görünmektedir. Sağlık sorunlarının sağlık çalışanları tarafından sıkça sıla özlemi ile ilişkilendirilmesinin sağlık ihtiyaçlarının karşılanamamasına yol açtığı görünmektedir. Özellikle göçün ilk dönemlerinde dil bariyeri ve sisteme yabancılık nedeniyle sağlık sistemine erişimde önemli zorluklar yaşandığı görünmektedir. Bu nedenle, hem göçmen sağlığının korunması hem de hizmetlere erişimin iyileştirilmesi için yapılacak müdahalelerde, göçün ve hastalığın erken dönemleri öncelikli görünmektedir.

Keywords

Kronik hastalık, göç, göçmen kadın, sağlık hizmetleri, erişim

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma Bern Kantonu (İsviçre) Etik Kurulu tarafından 18.05.2017 tarihinde onaylanmıştır.

Supporting Institution

İsviçre Ulusal Bilim Fonu (Swiss National Science Foundation)

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