Comparison of the public's social distance toward syrian refugees and perceptions of access to healthcare services: Istanbul sample

Abstract

Objective: This study was planned with the aim of comparing social distance of society towards Syrian refugees with perceptions about access to health care services. Materials and Methods: The descriptively planned research was completed with 2426 individuals attending hospital at least once themselves or with first degree relatives who received nursing care living in counties in Istanbul from 1 January-15 March 2017 and who agreed to participate in the research. Data collection tools used the information form containing information about patient and relative ages, sex, and educational level, Bogardus Social Distance Scale (SDS) and healthcare services access perception survey. Data obtained in the research were analyzed using the SPSS program. Appropriate tests were used based on the distribution of data. Results: Mean age of participants was 36.1±11.4 years, with the majority of individuals in Generation Y, 55.9 % were female, 44.7 % were high school graduates, 37.9 % resided in Istanbul 2nd region and 69.7 % had moderate income levels. Among participants, 25.3 % stated they or a first degree relative had chronic disease, while 74.8 % were satisfied with service in the health facility they attended. Additionally, 68.8 % of participants waited mean 42.09±38.46 minutes before examinations or tests. Total mean points obtained from the SDS were identified as 65.28±26.11. When the status of living in the same street as Syrian refugees, risk in terms of security of this situation, and effect of presence of refugees on level of health service received and time allocated to them by health personnel are compared with mean SDS of participants, statistically significant differences were identified (p<0.05). Conclusion: Most participants had moderate social distance to refugees and thought that the presence of refugees delayed their access to health services and lowered the level of health services.