Healthcare-seeking behaviour in relation to sexual and reproductive health among Thai-born women in Sweden: a qualitative study.
Thailand is one of the most common countries of origin among immigrants in Sweden and Thai immigrants comprise the immigrant group most frequently diagnosed with HIV. Little is known about their healthcare-seeking behaviour and views on HIV prevention. This study explored Thai women's healthcare-seeking behaviour in relation to sexual and reproductive health and their views on HIV prevention. Nineteen in-depth interviews were conducted with Thai-born women in the Stockholm area. Three themes were identified: (1) poor access to healthcare in Sweden, preferring to seek care in Thailand; (2) partners playing a key role in women's access to healthcare; (3) no perceived risk of HIV, but a positive attitude towards prevention. Despite expressing sexual and reproductive healthcare needs, most women had not sought this type of care, except for the cervical cancer screening programme to which they had been invited. Identified barriers for poor access to healthcare were lack of knowledge about the healthcare system and language difficulties. To achieve 'healthcare on equal terms', programmes and interventions must meet Thai women's healthcare needs and consider what factors influence their care-seeking behaviour. Integrating HIV prevention and contraceptive counselling into the cervical screening programme might be one way to improve access.
a Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Social Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
Eva
E
Åkerman
b Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
Birgitta
B
Essén
a Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Social Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
Ragnar
R
Westerling
c Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
Elin
E
Larsson
D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D013548:Sweden; D013785:Thailand / Q000208:ethnology
HIV prevention; Sweden; Thai women; healthcare-seeking; migration; sexual and reproductive health