Perspectives and experiences of new migrants on health screening in Sweden

Autor: Anna-Karin Hurtig, Clas Ahlm, Faustine Nkulu Kalengayi, Annika Nordstrand, Beth Maina Ahlberg
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2016
Předmět:
Male
genetic structures
Language barriers
Health informatics
Health administration
Migration policy
0302 clinical medicine
Mass Screening
030212 general & internal medicine
Cooperative Behavior
Language
Transients and Migrants
030503 health policy & services
Nursing research
Health Policy
Public Health
Global Health
Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Professional-Patient Relations
Middle Aged
Health policy
Europe
Caregivers
Screening
Infectious diseases
Female
Thematic analysis
0305 other medical science
Attitude to Health
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Asia
Language barrier
Interpretive description
Migrants
Communicable Diseases
03 medical and health sciences
Nursing
medicine
Thematic alysis
Humans
Mass screening
Sweden
business.industry
Public health
Qualitative interview
Folkhälsovetenskap
global hälsa
socialmedicin och epidemiologi
Africa
Communicable Disease Control
Perception
business
Zdroj: BMC Health Services Research
ISSN: 1472-6963
Popis: Background: In Sweden, migrants from countries considered to have a high burden of certain infectious diseases are offered health screening to prevent the spread of these diseases, but also identify their health needs. However, very little is known about their experiences and perceptions about the screening process. This study aimed at exploring these perceptions and experiences in order to inform policy and clinical practice. Method: Using an interpretive description framework, 26 new migrants were interviewed between April and June 2013 in four Swedish counties. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Results: The three themes developed include: new country, new practices; new requirements in the new country; and unmet needs and expectations. Participants described what it meant for them to come to a new country with a foreign language, new ways of communicating with caregivers/authorities and being offered health screening without clarification. Participants perceived health screening as a requirement from the authorities to be fulfilled by all newcomers but conceded that it benefits equally the host society and themselves. However, they also expressed concern over the involvement of the Migration Board staff and feared possible collaboration with health service to their detriment. They further stated that the screening program fell short of their expectations as it mainly focused on identifying infectious diseases and overlooked their actual health needs. Finally, they expressed frustration over delay in screening, poor living conditions in reception centers and the restrictive entitlement to care. Conclusions: Migrants are aware of their vulnerability and the need to undergo health screening though they view it as an official requirement. Thus, those who underwent the screening were more concerned about residency rather than the actual benefits of screening. The issues highlighted in this study may limit access to and uptake of the screening service, and compromise its effectiveness. To maximize the uptake: (1) linguistically and culturally adapted information is needed, (2) other screening approaches should be tried, (3) trained medical interpreters should be used, (4) a holistic and human right approach should be applied, (5) the involvement of migration staff should be reconsidered to avoid confusion and worries. Finally, to improve the effectiveness, (6) all migrants from targeted countries should be offered screening and efforts should be taken to improve the health literacy of migrants and the living conditions in reception centers.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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