Complementary medicine among individuals experiencing homelessness in Switzerland: a quantitative and qualitative descriptive study

Table 1 Descriptive Statistics for the Study Sample (N = 123)

Variables	% or mean (SD)
Nationality
Swiss	6.5%
European¹	52%
Non-European²	41.5%
Residency permit³
Undocumented	68.5%
Permit B	9%
Permit C	2.7%
Permit G	1.8%
Permit L	1.8%
Permit N	4.5%
No answer	9%
Highest educational level
Mandatory school not completed	14.6%
Mandatory school (11 years)	24.4%
High school	24.4%
Vocational school	19.5%
University⁴ College	15.4%
Missing	1.6%
Housing status over the past 2 weeks
Living rough	20.3%
In emergency accommodation	60.2%
In accommodation for the homeless	2.4%
In institution	0.8%
In non-conventional dwelling due to lack of housing	5.7%
In conventional housing (relatives, lack of housing)	5.7%
Own housing⁵	3.3%
Health insurance
Hold a health insurance	49.2%
No health insurance	49.2%
No answer	1.6%

Note.¹Examples of European country of origin includes France or Spain. ²Examples of non-European country of origin include Nigeria or Algeria. ³B permit authorizes non-Swiss citizen to stay in Switzerland for a specific purpose (e.g., work); C permit allows its holders to stay in Switzerland permanently; G permit allows cross-border working (i.e., people employed in Switzerland but living in a European country); L permit allows workers from the European Union to settle in Switzerland for a period of less than one year, with or without an employment contract; N permit: allows to stay in Switzerland while awaiting a decision on the asylum application. ⁴College = bachelor level, whereas University = Master level. ⁵Four participants lost their own housing in the past 2 weeks

ISSN: 2662-7671