Summary of findings of health questionnaire Out of a total of 111 interviews: 39 17 reported they were not ill and had not tried to access health care in RSA went to private doctors and had never used public health Out of a total of 55 who were ill and could not access private health care: 29 17 7 2 received treatment in either a hospital or clinic were refused treatment in either a hospital or clinic reported they were too scared to seek health care 153 reported they could not afford health care Out of a total of 55 who needed medical care through the public health system: 29 26 accessed health care did not access health care - mainly because it was denied, but also at times because respondents felt too afraid or too poor to approach a health centre. The most common institution to refuse health care, was Johannesburg Hospital. 10 people reported being refused health care at Johannesburg Hospital 6 people reported accessing health care at Johannesburg Hospital The most likely group within a health institution to turn away a Zimbabwean, was the receptionist. This was usually who turned refugees away at Johannesburg hospital, and this was also reported at two clinics that denied health care. Staff insults Most commonly, people reported being turned away on a technicality, like not having ID or being foreign and therefore not eligible. However, a few people reported overt racism by health staff. One woman reported being allowed to deliver her baby in Coronation Hospital when she arrived there in full labour, but of having to put up with continuous verbal abuse and accusations of being a “makwerekwere” throughout her delivery. Three others who were refused access to health institutions reported similar abuse by health care staff. Summary While this is not a large enough sample to draw any conclusions from, the findings of this survey support the anecdotal evidence that it is not easy for Zimbabweans to access health care. Presumably this is as true for other refugee groups. 153 They self medicated, even though in some cases, conditions appeared to be quite serious. One reported epilepsy, and was not on any medication; one had chest pains; one reporting often fainting; one was pregnant and not accessing ante natal care. 66