La salute materno-infantile degli stranieri e l'accesso ai servizi: Analisi quali-q uantitativa nel territorio cesenate

Objective: In order to achieve useful data for improving services and interventions for immigrants, an investigation regarding access to health services for immigrant children and women was conducted. Material and methods: A quantitative research on health services' activity data for immigrant children and women was integrated with a qualitative research through focus groups with immigrants, health professionals and cultural mediators. Results: In respect to Italians, under age immigrants have more accesses to emergency health services and more hospital admissions. Immigrant women have more hospital admissions for pregnancies or labour, but less accesses to preventive prenatal care. Language and logistics problems together with family loneliness are responsible of a non optimal use of basic health services, of a difficult home management of most cases and of a greater disease burden for under age immigrants. Discussion: Most problems are mainly due to socio economic factors and therefore need amultidisciplinary approach in order to improve home conditions, social integration and the ability to benefit from health services.