Elisabeth Zonneveld

"That's How I Live with It, I Don't Have a Choice": a Study on Undocumented Migrants' Health Seeking Behaviour for Dental Problems in the Netherlands Elisabeth Zonneveld

After a change in the Health Insurance Act in January 2009 in the Netherlands difficulties were expected for undocumented migrants with dental problems. Commissioned by the NGO Dokters van de Wereld and in line with that expectation this study examines undocumented migrants' (UDMs) health seeking behaviour for dental problems in the Netherlands. It is based on a qualitative research conducted from early March till late May 2010. With the assumption that UDMs are part of the margin of society and their status is highly stigmatized, the author believes that access to health or dental care is an ongoing obstacle. This study explores the strategies UDMs choose to solve dental problems at the micro, meso and macro level. It describes the reason why UDMs do not visit the regular dentist and explains which alternatives they use and why.