More and new immigrants: What difficulties do they present for professionals in primary care?

Abstract

With the arrival of an increasing number of immigrants from different origins, primary health care and its professionals are facing new types of problems that derive from the difficulties of communication widespread on intercultural contexts and also from logistics restrictions, such as lack of time to conduct an effective therapeutic relationship. Responding to the needs of the immigrants - which are most of the time socially vulnerable and have ways of understanding and expressing their health and disease-related concerns that differ from those of the health professionals - is a challenge that asks for institutional support,communication qualifications and some knowledge about different cultures, religions, beliefs and habits. The purpose of the article is to analyze some of those difficulties, suggesting ways of approach which allow for the creation of services that are culturally adapted, open to all the religious believes and that facilitate the intercultural dialog, as recommended by the High Commissioner for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue.