Beyond Borders: Exploring the Quality of Life, Health-Seeking Behavior, and Perceived Barriers in Health Services Utilization Among Sudanese Immigrants in Egypt

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The detention of immigrants has adverse effects on both their health and their overall quality of life. In migration conditions, there is a notable impact on health-seeking behavior., OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the quality of life, health-seeking behavior, and perceived barriers to health services utilization among Sudanese immigrants in Egypt., MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional design to fulfill its objectives. A convenience sample comprising 385 Sudanese immigrants post-war was utilized. The researcher employed a structured questionnaire consisting of four parts: socio-demographic data, a quality of life questionnaire, an assessment of health-seeking behavior, and an exploration of the barriers faced by Sudanese immigrant participants in accessing health services., RESULTS: The study on Sudanese immigrants post-war revealed diverse perceptions of overall quality of life, with 41.6% reporting satisfaction, 32.4% an average state, and 26.0% unsatisfactory conditions. Factors such as gender, educational level, financial situation, and the primary reason for relocating to Egypt significantly influenced these outcomes (p<0.05). Encouragingly, 57.1% of the immigrants exhibited positive health-seeking behavior. Noteworthy barriers to healthcare access included limited awareness of available services (60.5%), competing priorities like work (53.2%), insufficient financial resources (49.6%), and extended waiting times in healthcare facilities (45.5%). These findings underscore the complex interplay of factors affecting the well-being and health-seeking patterns of Sudanese immigrants in their new environment., CONCLUSION: The research sheds light on key aspects of the well-being of Sudanese immigrants in Egypt, offering insights into their quality of life, health-seeking behavior, and perceived barriers to healthcare. The findings reveal a diverse spectrum of overall quality of life, with over a third expressing satisfaction, while a significant portion reported average or unsatisfactory levels. The study underscores the intricate influence of gender, educational level, financial situation, and the primary reason for immigration on the quality of life. Positive health-seeking behavior was observed in more than half of the participants, yet the identification of barriers to healthcare access signals challenges that warrant attention for enhancing overall health outcomes among this immigrant population. Implementing community-based health education programs plays a pivotal role in empowering immigrant Sudanese individuals in Egypt to make informed health choices and adopt healthy lifestyles. Copyright © 2024, Hamdy et al.