Barriers to health service utilization by immigrant families raising a disabled child

The current project assessed the perceptions of three groups (representatives of community service organizations that provide support to newcomers, immigrant parents raising a child with a disability, and service providers employed by health care centres) regarding (a) barriers in service delivery for immigrant families, (b) extent of unmet needs, and (c) the extent to which services are culturall [...] It would be beneficial for service providers to be trained on how to work with translators, to be aware of the language services available to immigrant families, and to be aware of the importance of using a translator in meetings with families. [...] The major barriers to service access and utilization are (a) language barriers, leading to lack of awareness of services and lack of understanding of service providers’ recommendations, (b) financial and economic barriers, (c) immigrants’ assumptions and preconceived notions about services, leading to fears regarding stigma and other negative outcomes, and (d) service providers’ assumptions and la [...] The focus groups and interviews assessed barriers to services, perceptions of culturally sensitive and family-centred (i.e., individualized and respectful) care, and the ways in which health service organizations respond to the needs of various populations (including translation services, outreach services, provision of service coordination, and service integration). [...] We also explored perceptions of the ways in which health service organizations respond to the needs of various populations, including the availability and extent of use of translation/interpreter services; availability and use of outreach services; and provision of service coordination.