Inequities in refraining from seeking health care among Sámi in Sweden: the SámiHET survey

This study assessed the prevalence, reasons, and factors associated with refraining from seeking needed health care among the Sámi population in Sweden. Using data from a 2021 health survey, 3,658 individuals participated. Descriptive and regression analyses were applied to summarize the data and determine the magnitude of associations between independent variables and refraining from health care. Results showed 19.9% of participants refrained from seeking needed health care. Common reasons included lack of time (25%), problem resolution (16%), long wait times (16%), and uncertainty about where to seek care (13%). Factors associated with the higher prevalence of refraining included being a woman, being under 65, having lower income, experiencing economic stress, belonging to a forest reindeer herding community, and residing outside Sámi homelands. Interventions should be designed to address healthcare access inequities among vulnerable Sámi subgroups. Further research is needed to understand these disparities and reasons for refraining from care in non-pandemic contexts.