Immigrants from Mongolia – their health and experience with healthcare in the Czech Republic

At present, foreigners form over four percent of the Czech population. According to the Czech Statistical Office, nearly six thousand of them are immigrants from Mongolia. The reason for this migration is usually the possibility of getting a job and therefore improving their economic situation. The aim of the research, which is part of the project entitled “Social Determinants of Health in Selected Target Groups”, was to analyze the relationship between a set of selected social characteristics and characteristics of health. The paper refers to immigrants from Mongolia who are living in South Bohemia. The qualitative survey was performed by interviewing nineteen respondents. After the interviews and analysis of the data, major semantic categories and subcategories were identified. This paper focuses on the current health status of immigrants, the type of health insurance, experience with doctors, and their level of satisfaction with receiving healthcare. The results helped to reveal numerous problems concerning the health of immigrants, and the use of healthcare in our country. Respondents reported health problems such as chronic backache, headaches, fatigue and hearing impairments. These problems were all associated with an unsuitable work environment. While receiving healthcare, the respondents met with a negative attitude from medical staff. According to the respondents, the most common causes of this were language barriers, and doctors and nurses prejudice towards foreigners.