Ontario's South, West Asian women least likely to gain access to a doc

Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): Ontario's South and West Asian or Arab women report most difficulty in finding a doctor and getting an appointment, claims a new study.

According to researchers, one in three South Asian, West Asian or Arab women - one of the fastest growing segments of Canada's population - have trouble accessing a doctor to address an urgent health concern or to monitor health problems.

The findings, from a study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences (ICES), finds this group and immigrant women and men are at a significant disadvantage compared to Canadian-born individuals when it comes to finding a doctor, getting an appointment and accessing specialists for their health-care needs.

"Ensuring all Ontarians have equal access to care is important if we want to improve the health and well-being of men and women across the province," says Arlene Bierman, a physician at St. Michael's Hospital and principal investigator of the study, entitled Project for an Ontario Women's Health Evidence-Based Report (POWER).

"Statistics Canada estimates by 2031, the country's visible minority population will double, with South Asians forming the largest visible minority group. We need to be able to better serve the growing health-care needs of this community and reduce barriers to care to improve health outcomes," added Dr. Bierman, also an ICES investigator.

The POWER (the Project for an Ontario Women's Health Evidence-Based Report) study - a joint study from St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) - is the first in the province to provide a comprehensive overview of women's health in relation to gender, income, education, ethnicity and geography.

The findings are detailed in the report titled Access to Care-the seventh chapter to be released as part of the study. (ANI)