Healthcare attitudes and behaviors of immigrant and US-born women in Hamtramck, Michigan: a MetroNet study.
OBJECTIVE
Recognizing recent immigrant migration into Hamtramck, Michigan, our objective was to conduct a survey focused on female patients seeking health care in an ethically diverse primary care clinic.


METHODS
Cross-sectional exploratory questionnaire survey study.


METHODS
A family medicine center (FMC) in Hamtramck, Michigan.


METHODS
A convenience sample of women patients, age > or =18 years of age who understood English and/or written or spoken Bangla.


METHODS
Health-seeking behaviors and satisfaction with the US healthcare system.


RESULTS
156 women patients participated. Sixty-seven (43%) were immigrants, primarily representing three ethnicities: Bangladeshi (61%), Yemeni (19%) and Bosnian (13%). The mean length of residence in the United States was eight years. Compared with US-born, the immigrants were more likely to report a household income of less than $15,000; however they had similar rates of health insurance. US-born women reported less satisfaction with our healthcare system. Immigrants were more likely to visit their physician when feeling ill, and to bring a friend or relative to help alleviate communication problems. Immigrant women were also more likely to express a desire for a physician who was female and/ or from a similar cultural background.


CONCLUSIONS
The study findings suggest the need for physicians to be culturally sensitive to the particular needs of the immigrant female population they serve and to treat each patient within the context of her environment.
Markova
Tsveti
T
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Dean
Flora
F
Neale
Anne Victoria
AV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000208:ethnology; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015006:Yemen / Q000208:ethnology