Asylum Seekers in Healthcare Settings as a Human Rights Matter: Examining the Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals to Asylum Seekers in Türkiye

Abstract

This study examines the attitudes and prejudices of healthcare professionals towards asylum seekers in Türkiye, investigating the influence of important demographic factors such as age, profession, and contact with asylum seekers. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data are gathered through an online survey of 423 healthcare professionals. The results indicate professional experience and age have significant influences on attitudes, with young professionals with little experience having more positive views. In addition, healthcare professionals who have positive contact with asylum seekers have significantly decreased prejudice. The results highlight the relevance of cultural competency, exposure, and professional training in shaping equitable healthcare attitudes. The study affirms the need for formal training programs which integrate social work expertise in order to counteract prejudices and ensure culturally competent healthcare practices. The elimination of discriminatory healthcare attitudes is critical to providing equal access to healthcare for asylum seekers in accordance with the standards of human rights. The outcomes of the study add to the body of work by providing a quantitative analysis of the relationship between professional experience and implicit bias, which supports the relevance of policy interventions in healthcare training programs.