Barriers to health care for immigrants and nonimmigrants: a comparative study

A survey asked medical social workers and visiting public health nurses to identify health problems and to compare barriers to health care experienced by immigrants and nonimmigrants in the Twin Cities area. Respondents considered infectious diseases a more significant problem for immigrants; they saw alcohol and chemical dependency as more problematic for nonimmigrants. Survey respondents thought that both groups experienced many of the same logistical barriers, including inadequate insurance coverage, transportation, mental stress, time constraints, and distance to their health care facilities. They identified language barriers and the need for trained interpreters as barriers for immigrants only. The survey confirmed widely held assumptions that cultural barriers are more problematic for immigrants, although these barriers were also perceived for nonimmigrants. Participants identified 16 of 18 health services as more available for nonimmigrants. Emergency and obstetrical services are equally available to the two groups, according to survey respondents.