Barriers and facilitators to healthcare utilisation by Arab sexual minority women migrants in the USA

Abstract

Limited research on sexual minority women migrants demonstrate that they face elevated rates of mental health problems compared to their heterosexual and male counterparts, and less is known about their healthcare seeking behaviours. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to mental and physical healthcare utilisation among first-generation (foreign-born) Arab sexual minority women migrants in the USA and to assess whether Penchansky and Thomas’ theory of access can be used to understand their healthcare utilisation behaviours. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Employing community-engaged research methods, four advisors, Arab sexual minority women migrants and a mental health service provider, assisted in recruitment and thematic data analysis providing a rich and nuanced understanding of study findings. Five main themes demonstrated the pivotal role of cultural humility from providers and access to medical insurance in shaping healthcare-seeking decisions. Difficulties finding therapists and navigating the referral process and wait times encouraged participants to seek care outside of the USA in their Arab countries of origin. Stigma and social support further influenced participants’ decisions to seek mental healthcare. The study findings inform policy and practice to foster the development of inclusive healthcare services grounded in cultural humility and to develop support groups specifically for Arab sexual minority women migrants to the USA.

Keywords:

• Sexual minority women
• immigration
• mental health

Acknowledgements

We thank our community advisors Rama, Maya and Dhuha for their contributions to this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by a University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health Scholarship and an Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy Dissertation Research Grant.