Author: Sabin Ghimrey
For many individuals, going to the doctor for sickness, prescription refills, or regular checkups is usually not difficult. However, this typically simple experience can become highly challenging when a language barrier exists. This is particularly true for immigrants. The lack of effective communication can result in feelings of fear, dependence, and shame (Floyd & Sakellariou, 2017). Consequently, immigrants may avoid seeking healthcare, leading to poor health outcomes.
The challenge begins even before reaching the hospital, as not knowing the local language can make reaching the intended destination a difficult task. There is a fear of getting lost, especially when longer commutes are necessary, which often deters individuals from accessing the necessary care. If one manages to reach the clinic, several new problems arise. Many individuals struggle to effectively communicate their symptoms to doctors and understand their diagnosis or test results. This predicament forces them to rely on nonprofessionals like their children, neighbours, or friends to interpret and explain their health conditions to their healthcare provider (Floyd & Sakellariou, 2017). This scenario could be more optimal as patients may hesitate to fully disclose the extent of their conditions to the interpreter resulting in inadequate care. Immigrant women often lack English proficiency due to gender roles in their home countries, which leads to feelings of shame regarding their educational and language limitations compared to locals, further discouraging them from seeking appropriate medical attention (Floyd & Sakellariou, 2017).
The language barrier between patients and healthcare providers underscores a shortcoming within the Canadian healthcare system. Since immigrants represent Canada’s primary sourcy of population growth and constitute nearly 20% of the population, solutions must be implemented to prevent a substantial and vulnerable part of Canada's population from being left behind (Statista, 2023).
References
Floyd, A., & Sakellariou, D. (2017). Healthcare Access for refugee women with limited literacy:
Layers of disadvantage. International Journal for Equity in Health, 16(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-017-0694-8
Statista. (2023, July 26). Immigration in Canada: Statistics & facts.
https://www.statista.com/topics/2917/immigration-in-canada/#topicOverview
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