Factors associated with communicative and financial barriers to healthcare utilization among people with selected citizenships in Germany: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study
- 1Robert Koch Institute, Gerichtsstraße 27, Berlin, 13347 Germany
- 2Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Abstract
Background: Research has shown that migrants in Germany face various barriers to healthcare access, including communicative and financial barriers. This study examined which sociodemographic, migration-related, and psychosocial factors are associated with these barriers in order to better understand lower healthcare utilization among migrants.
Methods: We used data from the nationwide cross-sectional health interview survey GEDA Fokus, which included people with Croatian, Italian, Polish, Syrian, or Turkish citizenship living in Germany. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable analyses were conducted separately for communicative and financial barriers while accounting for relevant social factors.
Results: Of the 6,038 participants, 16.2% reported communicative barriers and 9.0% reported financial barriers to healthcare utilization. According to the regression analyses, gender, age, German language proficiency, and self-reported experiences of racist discrimination were associated with communicative barriers. For financial barriers, associations with gender, educational level, and experiences of discrimination due to the socioeconomic situation were found.
Conclusion: The results indicate that demographic, socioeconomic, migration-related, and psychosocial factors are associated with communicative and financial barriers to healthcare utilization. Gender and experiences of discrimination were significantly associated with both communicative and financial barriers. In practice, the provision of qualified translation and interpretation services, anti-discrimination and awareness training for healthcare staff, and the expansion of low-threshold, financially accessible services could help promote more equitable access to healthcare among migrants.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15932-x.
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BibTeX
@article{goerigk2026factors,
title = {{Factors associated with communicative and financial barriers to healthcare utilization among people with selected citizenships in Germany: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study}},
author = {Lena Goerigk and Katja Kajikhina and Claudia Hövener and Carmen Koschollek},
journal = {BMC Health Services Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12913-026-15932-x},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15932-x},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Factors associated with communicative and financial barriers to healthcare utilization among people with selected citizenships in Germany: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study
AU - Lena Goerigk
AU - Katja Kajikhina
AU - Claudia Hövener
AU - Carmen Koschollek
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - BMC Health Services Research
DO - 10.1186/s12913-026-15932-x
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15932-x
AB - Background: Research has shown that migrants in Germany face various barriers to healthcare access, including communicative and financial barriers. This study examined which sociodemographic, migration-related, and psychosocial factors are associated with these barriers in order to better understand lower healthcare utilization among migrants. Methods: We used data from the nationwide cross-sectional health interview survey GEDA Fokus, which included people with Croatian, Italian, Polish, Syrian, or Turkish citizenship living in Germany. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable analyses were conducted separately for communicative and financial barriers while accounting for relevant social factors. Results: Of the 6,038 participants, 16.2% reported communicative barriers and 9.0% reported financial barriers to healthcare utilization. According to the regression analyses, gender, age, German language proficiency, and self-reported experiences of racist discrimination were associated with communicative barriers. For financial barriers, associations with gender, educational level, and experiences of discrimination due to the socioeconomic situation were found. Conclusion: The results indicate that demographic, socioeconomic, migration-related, and psychosocial factors are associated with communicative and financial barriers to healthcare utilization. Gender and experiences of discrimination were significantly associated with both communicative and financial barriers. In practice, the provision of qualified translation and interpretation services, anti-discrimination and awareness training for healthcare staff, and the expansion of low-threshold, financially accessible services could help promote more equitable access to healthcare among migrants. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15932-x.
SN - 1472-6963
ER -