Kuva Mutowra Kwakaoma: A systematic investigation of the factors affecting the provision of quality health care to foreign nationals by public health care providers: The case of migrant woman in Alexandra, South Africa

Abstract

This research report delves into the pressing issue of injustices faced by migrant women in accessing public healthcare in Alexandra, Johannesburg. The focus is on understanding the experiences of these women to inform planners' interventions in addressing the growing challenge. Drawing on critical theories of xenophobia and intersectionality (Atrey, 2022), the study examines South Africa's current public health system, government policies, and hospital regulations, particularly their impact on migrant women. The methodology includes a critical review of literature and interviews, aiming to uncover, evaluate, and synthesize relevant findings on immigrant women's access to public health care. Central research questions explore the structural factors fostering xenophobic practices among healthcare practitioners and delve into the definition of a migrant woman, existing legislation, xenophobic elements in government policies, theoretical underpinnings of xenophobia in healthcare, and practitioners' attitudes towards migrant women. Objectives include examining legislation and regulations, assessing xenophobic tendencies in government policies, reviewing theoretical frameworks, gauging healthcare sector attitudes, and determining urban planning's role in mitigating xenophobia. The rationale for this study is grounded in the overlooked role of women in migration studies and the need for a gendered understanding of migration. While existing literature discusses migrants' health conditions and service utilization, less is known about healthcare practitioners' perspectives and practices regarding migrant women. Central to the study is an analysis of the legislation and urban planning's potential role in mitigating xenophobia, informed by frameworks such as Barned and Nel (2017). The key findings reveal the complex realities and challenges migrant women face in accessing healthcare, marked by xenophobic tendencies in policies and healthcare practitioners' varied attitudes. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced training and systemic reforms in healthcare. Conclusively, the report underscores the vital strides needed to understand and address the disparities migrant women face in public healthcare. It presents their experiences as a foundation for future recommendations and interventions, aspiring to foster a more inclusive, empathetic, and equitable healthcare landscape.