Geographical Access to Child and Family Healthcare Services and Hospitals for Africa-Born Migrants and Refugees in NSW, Australia; A Spatial Study.

Njue, C; Nicholas, N; Robertson, H; Dawson, A

Geographical Access to Child and Family Healthcare Services and Hospitals for Africa-Born Migrants and Refugees in NSW, Australia; A Spatial Study.

Njue, C

Nicholas, N Robertson, H

Dawson, A

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Publisher:: MDPI AG
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, 18, (24), pp. 1-13
Issue Date:: 2021-12-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Njue, C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9325-3565
dc.contributor.author	Nicholas, N
dc.contributor.author	Robertson, H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0251-7682
dc.contributor.author	Dawson, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0926-2202
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-16T12:51:32Z
dc.date.available	2021-12-11
dc.date.available	2022-01-16T12:51:32Z
dc.date.issued	2021-12-15
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, 18, (24), pp. 1-13
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153166
dc.description.abstract	Background: African-born migrants and refugees arriving from fragile states and countries with political and economic challenges have unique health needs requiring tailored healthcare services and support. However, there is little investigation into the distribution of this population and their spatial access to healthcare in Australia. This paper reports on research that aimed to map the spatial distribution of Africa-born migrants from low and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) and refugees in New South Wales (NSW) and access to universal child and family health (CFH) services and hospitals. Methods: We analysed the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census data and Department of Social Services 2018 Settlement data. Using a Geographic Information System mapping software (Caliper Corporation. Newton, MA, USA), we applied data visualisation techniques to map the distribution of Africa-born migrants and refugees relative to CFH services and their travel distance to the nearest service. Results: Results indicate a spatial distribution of 51,709 migrants from LLMICs in Africa and 13,661 refugees from Africa live in NSW, with more than 70% of the total population residing in Sydney. The Africa-born migrant and refugee population in Sydney appear to be well served by CFH services and hospitals. However, there is a marked disparity between local government areas. For example, the local government areas of Blacktown and Canterbury-Bankstown, where the largest number of Africa-born migrants and refugees reside, have more uneven and widely dispersed services than those in Sydney’s inner suburbs. Conclusion: The place of residence and travel distance to services may present barriers to access to essential CFH services and hospitals for Africa-born refugees and migrants. Future analysis into spatial-access disadvantages is needed to identify how access to health services can be improved for refugees and migrants.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	MDPI AG
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ijerph182413205
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology
dc.subject.mesh	Africa
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Child
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services Accessibility
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.subject.mesh	Refugees
dc.subject.mesh	Transients and Migrants
dc.subject.mesh	Africa
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Child
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services Accessibility
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.subject.mesh	Refugees
dc.subject.mesh	Transients and Migrants
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Child
dc.subject.mesh	Refugees
dc.subject.mesh	Transients and Migrants
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services Accessibility
dc.subject.mesh	Africa
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.title	Geographical Access to Child and Family Healthcare Services and Hospitals for Africa-Born Migrants and Refugees in NSW, Australia; A Spatial Study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	18
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Architecture
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-01-16T12:51:27Z
pubs.issue	24
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	18
utslib.citation.issue	24

Abstract:

Background: African-born migrants and refugees arriving from fragile states and countries with political and economic challenges have unique health needs requiring tailored healthcare services and support. However, there is little investigation into the distribution of this population and their spatial access to healthcare in Australia. This paper reports on research that aimed to map the spatial distribution of Africa-born migrants from low and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) and refugees in New South Wales (NSW) and access to universal child and family health (CFH) services and hospitals. Methods: We analysed the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census data and Department of Social Services 2018 Settlement data. Using a Geographic Information System mapping software (Caliper Corporation. Newton, MA, USA), we applied data visualisation techniques to map the distribution of Africa-born migrants and refugees relative to CFH services and their travel distance to the nearest service. Results: Results indicate a spatial distribution of 51,709 migrants from LLMICs in Africa and 13,661 refugees from Africa live in NSW, with more than 70% of the total population residing in Sydney. The Africa-born migrant and refugee population in Sydney appear to be well served by CFH services and hospitals. However, there is a marked disparity between local government areas. For example, the local government areas of Blacktown and Canterbury-Bankstown, where the largest number of Africa-born migrants and refugees reside, have more uneven and widely dispersed services than those in Sydney’s inner suburbs. Conclusion: The place of residence and travel distance to services may present barriers to access to essential CFH services and hospitals for Africa-born refugees and migrants. Future analysis into spatial-access disadvantages is needed to identify how access to health services can be improved for refugees and migrants.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153166