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Exploring perceptions of HIV risk and health service access among Zimbabwean migrant women in Johannesburg: A gap in health policy in South Africa?

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Abstract

We present qualitative data from a 2005 exploratory study, recently published studies, and an analysis of the Department of Health's strategic plan to highlight the need for a broader policy debate on health-care access for migrants in South Africa. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 Zimbabwean women living in inner-city Johannesburg to document the special characteristics of this group of migrants, enquiring about their perceptions of HIV risk, and experiences of health services in South Africa. We identified access barriers, namely perceptions of relatively low HIV risk, severely constrained financial circumstances, uncertain legal status, and experiences of unresponsive health workers. We recommend that migrant-health rights be placed on South Africa's policy agenda, migrants be included in HIV prevention programs and that health workers be sensitized to the needs of migrants.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Ashnie Padarath and Phyllis Freeman for editorial assistance. The article is based on Pascalia Munyewende's research report submitted in partial fulfillment for the Master of Arts degree at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. We thank Ms Gayatri Singh, the research supervisor, the women who participated in the study, their supporting organizations, and the Wits Forced Migration Studies department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Policy & Medical Research Council Health Policy Research Group, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag X3, Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Pascalia Munyewende, Laetitia C Rispel, Bronwyn Harris & Matthew Chersich

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Matthew Chersich

Authors
  1. Pascalia Munyewende
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  2. Laetitia C Rispel
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  3. Bronwyn Harris
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  4. Matthew Chersich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pascalia Munyewende.

Additional information

The authors used qualitative data from an exploratory study, recently published studies, and an analysis of the Department of Health's strategic plan, to highlight the need for a broader policy debate on health care access for migrants in South Africa.

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Munyewende, P., Rispel, L., Harris, B. et al. Exploring perceptions of HIV risk and health service access among Zimbabwean migrant women in Johannesburg: A gap in health policy in South Africa?. J Public Health Pol 32 (Suppl 1), S152–S161 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2011.36

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