Unmet Needs: Unveiling Barriers to Healthcare Access Among the Homeless
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65166/pg1zxm84Keywords:
homelessness, healthcare access, health inequity, social determinants of health, descriptive phenomenology, Health Belief ModelAbstract
Access to healthcare remains a persistent concern among individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly because health needs are often shaped by poverty, unstable shelter, stigma, and limited capacity to navigate formal health systems. This study explored the barriers faced by homeless individuals in accessing healthcare services in Batangas City. A descriptive phenomenological design was employed, guided by the Health Belief Model. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 participants who were experiencing homelessness and had encountered illness during their period of homelessness. Participants were selected through convenience and purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Findings revealed five emergent themes: survival-driven health prioritization, living under the open sky, locked out of care, invisible in plain sight, and bridging gaps in healthcare access. Participants commonly prioritized food, shelter, and family survival over medical consultation. Harsh environmental exposure, informal labor, financial limitations, lack of documents, long waiting times, system complexity, stigma, and perceived exclusion further restricted access to care. Despite these barriers, participants showed willingness to seek healthcare when assistance, guidance, and child-related concerns were present. The study concludes that healthcare inaccessibility among homeless individuals is not merely an individual problem but a layered structural and social concern. The findings support the need for simplified healthcare procedures, patient navigation support, outreach services, temporary identification mechanisms, and non-discriminatory care for homeless populations.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Cynthia Frances Aaliyah Macatangay, RN, Dr. Bella Magnaye (Author)
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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