Immigrati e salute: cause di malattia, comportamenti di cura e accesso ai servizi sanitari in soggetti sudamericani, cinesi e filippini. Uno studio pilota sul territorio milanese. Immigrants and health: causes of illness, care behavior and access to health system in Latino American, Chinese and Filipino immigrants. A pilot study in Milan, Italy.

The present work investigates the relationships between health, health services and immigrants in Milan (Italy) and nearby areas. Three populations were involved, Latin American,Chinese and Filipino. It was hypothesized that culture and popular traditions influence the way people face health problems and health care behaviors. Therefore, this work aims to investigate health behaviors in case of disease, immigrants relationships with the health system and immigrants representations about the causes of cancer. A free list interview was administered to 114 subjects from the three populations. In addition, a semi structured interview was administered to 10 general practitioners and 15 doctors working in health centers for immigrants.

Riassunto. Questa ricerca indaga il rapporto delle minoranze etniche, presenti sul territorio di Milano e provincia, con la salute e con i servizi sanitari. Sono analizzati e confrontati tre gruppi etnici: Latino americani, cinesi e filippini. Si ipotizza che la cultura e la tradizione popolare di queste minoranze etniche influenzino le modalità con cui esse affrontano i problemi di salute e i loro comportamenti di cura. Pertanto, gli obiettivi del lavoro si concentrano sull’indagine dei comportamenti di cura intrapresi in caso di malattia, i rapporti con le strutture sanitarie e le cause che i membri dei gruppi etnici attribuiscono alle patologie tumorali. E’ stata somministrata un’intervista con la metodologia Free List a 114 soggetti appartenenti alle tre minoranze etniche considerate. Inoltre, è stata somministrata un’intervista semistrutturata a 10 medici di medicina generale e 15 medici volontari di alcuni centri di prima assistenza presenti a Milano. I risultati sottolineano la necessità di comprendere sia le credenze che le esigenze nell’ambito della salute di persone appartenenti a culture differenti dalla nostra, così da poter implementare risposte da parte del sistema sanitario che siano realmente funzionali e efficaci.¬Summary. The present work investigates the relationships between health, health services and immigrants in Milan (Italy) and nearby areas. Three populations were involved, Latin American, Chinese and Filipino. It was hypothesized that culture and popular traditions influence the way people face health problems and health care behaviors. Therefore, this work aims to investigate health behaviors in case of disease, immigrants’ relationships with the health system and immigrants representations about the causes of cancer. A Free List interview was administered to 114 subjects from the three populations. In addition, a semi structured interview was administered to 10 general practitioners and 15 doctors working in health centers for immigrants. Results point out the importance to consider health beliefs and health needs of people belonging to cultures different than ours, in order to implement functional and effective response from the health system.