2014, Cilt 1, Sayı 3, Sayfa(lar) 035-046
Migrant Families' Health-Related Behaviour and Opinions About Health
Zeliha KAYA ERTEN1, Handan ZİNCİR2, Betül ÖZEN2, Selma DİNÇ3, Ümit SEVİG2, Filiz ÖZKAN2
1Nuh Naci Yazgan Üniversitesi, Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği, Kayseri, Türkiye
2Erciyes Üniversitesi, Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği, Kayseri, Türkiye
3Harran Üniversitesi, Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği, Şanlı Urfa, Türkiye
Keywords: Family, Migration, Health Problems

Objective: This study was carried out to determine migrant families', living in low socioeconomic level and migration area of Erciyes University Health, Education and Research region, health-related behaviour and opinions about health, to plan nursing services delivery.

Materials-Methods: Study was conducted between the dates May 1st – 15th, 2008. Sample size was determined as 354 houses, by using “sampling from finite population” formula. Snowball method was used for selection of families. Data was collected with 33 item questionnaire. Data was analysed with percentage and chi-square tests.

Findings: It was found that 59% of families migrated from Middle Anatolia Region, 52.5% of them migrated for job opportunities and 33.6% of them migrated for having better life conditions. It is determined that, 41.3% of them had been living in Kayseri for 10 or less years and Turkish was mother language for 89.8% of them. The reasons for their sickness were stated as lack of care (38.5%), lack of hygiene (26%) and as punishment for their religion practices (12.4%). 25% of families who had migrated from East/Southeast Anatolia region stated they believed that sicknesses are the punishment of their religion practices. It is also determined that families migrated from East/Southeast Anatolia Region are using traditional methods for fractures (27.3%), burns (35.2%), headache (19.3%), stomach ache (43.2%), high fever (40.9%) and diarrhoea (40.6%), (p<0.05).

Result: This study determined migrant families' health-related behaviour and opinions about health. It can be concluded that while most of migrant families' prefer to admit to hospitals for health related concerns, there is still good portion prefer to seek traditional methods.