Utilisation of two health systems: A cross-sectional study on Swedish-Thai women’s choice of contraceptive counselling and HIV testing

• Aims: To investigate the need and use of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services andanalyses to what extent the use of SRH services in Sweden is associated with healthcarecontact in the country of origin or knowledge of the health system in the new country. Methods: A cross-sectional study using postal questionnaire to all Thai-born women (age 23-60) in Stockholm, residing in Sweden since 2014. Chi-squared and logistic regression wasused for analysis. Results: The response rate was 52.3% (n=266). The majority reported a significant need for information related to SRH-services. Most contraceptive using women (70%) bought theircontraceptives in Thailand. Older women and women who lacked knowledge of where to go for contraceptive counselling were more likely to have bought contraceptives in Thailand.However, use and need of contraceptive counselling in Sweden was higher among younger women. Nevertheless, women who had never been HIV tested in Thailand (40%) continued not to be tested in Sweden. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the Swedish health system does not correspond to Thai women’s needs for SRH services and information, since the majority bought their contraceptives in Thailand, and those who were never HIV tested continued not to be in Sweden. From a public health perspective and to achieve the goal of “healthcare on equal terms”, future interventions must focus on making health services and information moreaccessible for Thai immigrants.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Sweden

migration

Thai women

health services accessibility

sexual and reproductive health

contraceptives

HIV testing

Social Medicine

Socialmedicin

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)