Ethnicity, Spatial Equity and Utilization of Primary Care Physicians
- A Case Study of Mainland Chinese Immigrants in the Toronto CMA
Final Report
Submitted to
CERIS - The Ontario Metropolis Centre
Lu Wang
Department of Geography
Ryerson University
350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Canada
December, 2007
luwang@ryerson.ca
SYNOPSIS
The study concerned ethnicity, spatial equity and healthcare access in the context of diversity and
integration. It examined gaps and barriers, both spatial and socio-cultural, facing Mainland
Chinese (MLC) immigrants with regard to accessing primary care physicians, who are often
heterogeneous in their cultural background and language of practice. The MLC immigrants are the
most important source of immigrants to Canada since 1998. A random telephone questionnaire
survey and seven focus groups were conducted to explore the experiences of MLC in utilizing
primary care physicians. Geo-referenced Census data and physician data were utilized in a spatial
analysis of accessibility to family physicians. The primary data revealed a distinct preference
among MLC immigrants for linguistically-matched physicians and their unique health
management strategies in the host country. The spatial and quantitative analysis suggests a certain
degree of spatial inequality among Chinese immigrants in accessing culturally sensitive care. The
study yields important methodological and policy implications.
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1. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The research examined the spatial and socio-cultural barriers facing MLC immigrants in utilizing
family physician resources. MLC immigrants are the most important source of immigrants to
Canada since 1998. They account for 2.9% of the Toronto CMA’s total 2001 population. The
majority of MLC immigrants came after the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989. Because these
MLC immigrants have not been in Canada long, and because they come from a different culture
with a different healthcare system, one of the greatest challenges they fac