Essay On Barriers To Health And Social Services

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Recommended: Cultural diversity in healthcare 1

A) Explain what the barriers preventing immigrants to access health care and social services are? Explain at least three barriers.

Immigrants who are seeking health care and social services can encounter a number of barriers in regards to finding treatment or help. A barrier restricts the use of health and social services. It is seen by many immigrants as a limitation that prevents them from moving forward or receiving the treatment they are in need of (Scheppersa, et al, 2006). Three barriers that can affect the immigrant population in regards to health care and social services are: cultural differences, limitation to speak the local language, and perceptions about the health care system.
Cultural differences – Minority/Immigrant patients have altered cultural perceptions about physical symptoms or family issues which they may be struggling with, resulting in them not seeking the care of a physician or social services. Cultural perceptions and description of physical symptoms to the physician can cause the health care provider difficulty in knowing what the patient is struggling with as well as having trouble finding a diagnosis (Scheppersa, et al, 2006). This is a barrier which occurs frequently in health care as well as with social services causing immigrant patients stress with communicating with their health care provider.
Limitation in speaking the local language – This barrier is one of the major factors in minorities/immigrants not using health services or social services because this barrier creates chaos between the immigrant and the health care provider/social worker. Most health care instructions are given in the local language, and immigrants may feel embarrassment or ashamed to seek help in understand the instruct...

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...more work needs to be applied to the macro level of these conflicts. New strategies for resolving ethnic conflicts and barriers on a larger scale means more immigrant populations can be offered social services and there could be an increase in ethnic harmony and ethnic justice (Healy, 2008).
Another way social workers can minimize these barriers is to listen to their clients they are working with. Many health care/social service clients want their health care/social service provider to respect their culturally based beliefs and practices (Scheppersa, et al, 2006). Health care providers and social workers can ask their clients directly about their health or family beliefs so that they can help them more effectively. By using this approach, the social worker/health care provider can prevent any stereotyping and assumptions about the culture (Scheppersa, et al, 2006).

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