Date of Conferral
4-16-2024
Date of Award
April 2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Health
Advisor
Michael Schwab
Abstract
Ethnic and racial disparities in accessing primary healthcare persist for African immigrants in the United States, placing them at a greater risk for adverse health outcomes. This social problem has become more significant since African-born individuals are the fastest-growing immigrant population in America, and many of them experience health threats before their arrival in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how African immigrants describe their lived experiences with accessing primary healthcare in the United States. The study was guided by ecological systems theory. Data were collected using in-depth, semistructured interviews lasting approximately 60-90 minutes with 10 African immigrants in the midwestern United States who were recruited from African Immigrants Community Services. A six-step thematic analysis protocol was used to derive themes. The results of the study indicated that participants confronted external access barriers including language, cost, and preferred traditional African remedies, but that they could overcome these barriers by sharing information, getting educated on their insurance options, and focusing on obtaining insurance. Some participants reported positive experiences, in part through sharing information about insurance and the healthcare experience with other immigrants as a means of overcoming access barriers. Implications for positive social change include providing insight into how primary healthcare providers can provide culturally competent care and raise awareness of preventive healthcare benefits to address the specific needs of African immigrants, thus fostering better healthcare access in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Kamasse, Rachel Yendaogo, "The Lived Experiences of African Immigrants Accessing Healthcare in the United States" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15650.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15650
