title: Demographic and socio-cultural correlates of medical mistrust in two Australian States: Victoria and South Australia.
abstract: Studies on medical mistrust have mainly focused on depicting the association between medical mistrust and access/utilization of healthcare services. The effect of broader socio-demographic and psycho-social factors on medical mistrust remains poorly documented. The study examined the effect of broader socio-demographic factors, acculturation, and discrimination on medical mistrust among 425 African migrants living in Victoria and South Australia, Australia. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, low medical mistrust scores (i.e., more trusting of the system) were associated with refugee (β=-4.27, p<0.01) and family reunion (β=-4.01, p<0.01) migration statuses, being Christian (β=-2.21, p<0.001), and living in rural or village areas prior to migration (β=-2.09, p<0.05). Medical mistrust did not vary by the type of acculturation, but was positively related to perceived personal (β=0.43, p<0.001) and societal (β=0.38, p<0.001) discrimination. In order to reduce inequalities in healthcare access and utilisation and health outcomes, programs to enhance trust in the medical system among African migrants and to address discrimination within the community are needed.
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Society Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, VIC 3004, Australia; Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute, Level 3, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: andre.renzaho@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzaho
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polonsky
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: McQuilten
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology*; D003710:Demography; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012923:Social Class; D013021:South Australia; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acculturation; African refugees and migrants; Discrimination; Medical mistrust