Exploring the Perceptions of Professionals Involved in Refugee and Asylum Seekers’ Integration on Access and Utilization of Healthcare: A Qualitative Study

Background In recent years, the number of displaced persons due to conflict, persecution, and environmental crises has significantly increased, leading to a large influx of refugees and asylum seekers in European countries, including Portugal. While the Portuguese National Health Service guarantees universal access to healthcare, numerous barriers still hinder the effective access and use of health services by refugee populations, particularly for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of professionals involved in refugee integration regarding barriers to accessing and utilizing healthcare, with a particular focus on non-communicable diseases. Methods A phenomenological approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured individual interviews with 13 participants, comprising health professionals and integration/settlement workers. Data were collected between December 2022 and mid-2023, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically following Deschamps’ phenomenological reduction process. Results Thirteen professionals from the healthcare and integration sectors participated in the study. Data analysis revealed two overarching themes: (1) perceptions of refugees’ health problems, and (2) perceptions of access to and utilization of healthcare. Participants reported a high burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly mental health conditions, alongside common risk factors such as unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and psychosocial distress. Barriers to healthcare access included cultural and linguistic challenges, bureaucratic complexity, and socioeconomic constraints. Facilitators—though less mentioned—included the involvement of cultural mediators, flexible service delivery, and intersectoral collaboration. Both refugees and professionals were described as adopting informal strategies to navigate systemic barriers. Conclusion The insights gained from this study, which delved into the perspectives of professionals, can serve as a cornerstone for the development of culturally sensitive, equitable, and accessible healthcare strategies for refugee populations in Portugal.