The social integration of immigrants from the perspective of social workers in the field of medical social work

This study aims to explore in depth the experiences and perspectives of social workers who have been working for at least two years in the field of medical social work regarding the social integration processes of migrants. Adopting a phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative research designs, the study was conducted with 20 social workers employed in various institutions such as Migrant Health Centers, hospitals, and district health directorates. Using purposive sampling, participants were selected based on their relevant experience, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The experiences of participants were analyzed around key themes such as access to healthcare services for migrants, challenges encountered in the process of social integration, the impact of multiple disadvantages such as disability and chronic illness, institutional practices, and policy recommendations. The data were analyzed thematically using MAXQDA software. The findings highlight the need to develop migrant-sensitive approaches in social work practices and emphasize the critical role of social workers in the field of medical social work. This study provides a unique contribution to the literature by demonstrating that social integration requires not only individual efforts but also systematic and comprehensive service models.