Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden
Abstract Background Owing to communication challenges and a lack of knowledge about the health care system, refugees may be at risk of having limited health literacy, meaning that they will have problems in achieving, understanding, appraising and using health information or navigating in the health...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09163-w |
| _version_ | 1818187696374284288 |
|---|---|
| author | L. Mårtensson P. Lytsy R. Westerling J. Wångdahl |
| author_facet | L. Mårtensson P. Lytsy R. Westerling J. Wångdahl |
| author_sort | L. Mårtensson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Owing to communication challenges and a lack of knowledge about the health care system, refugees may be at risk of having limited health literacy, meaning that they will have problems in achieving, understanding, appraising and using health information or navigating in the health care system. The aim of this study was to explore experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden. Methods A qualitative design with a focus group methodology was used. The qualitative content analysis was based on seven focus group discussions, including 28 Arabic and Somali speaking refugees. Results Four categories emerged. ‘Concrete instructions and explanations’ includes appreciation of knowledge about how to act when facing health problems. ‘Contextual knowledge’ comprises experienced needs of information about the health care system, about specific health risks and about rights in health issues. ‘A variation of sources’ describes suggestions as to where and how information should be given. ‘Enabling communication’ includes the wish for more awareness among professionals from a language and cultural point of view. Conclusion Concrete instructions and explanations are experienced as valuable and applicable. Additional information about health issues and the health care system is needed. Information concerning health should be spread by a variety of sources. Health literate health organizations are needed to meet the health challenges of refugees, including professionals that emphasize health literacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:15:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbc0d9c0a70946dd8532c47cbdfabc76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:15:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbc0d9c0a70946dd8532c47cbdfabc762022-12-22T00:46:34ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-07-0120111010.1186/s12889-020-09163-wExperiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in SwedenL. Mårtensson0P. Lytsy1R. Westerling2J. Wångdahl3Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background Owing to communication challenges and a lack of knowledge about the health care system, refugees may be at risk of having limited health literacy, meaning that they will have problems in achieving, understanding, appraising and using health information or navigating in the health care system. The aim of this study was to explore experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden. Methods A qualitative design with a focus group methodology was used. The qualitative content analysis was based on seven focus group discussions, including 28 Arabic and Somali speaking refugees. Results Four categories emerged. ‘Concrete instructions and explanations’ includes appreciation of knowledge about how to act when facing health problems. ‘Contextual knowledge’ comprises experienced needs of information about the health care system, about specific health risks and about rights in health issues. ‘A variation of sources’ describes suggestions as to where and how information should be given. ‘Enabling communication’ includes the wish for more awareness among professionals from a language and cultural point of view. Conclusion Concrete instructions and explanations are experienced as valuable and applicable. Additional information about health issues and the health care system is needed. Information concerning health should be spread by a variety of sources. Health literate health organizations are needed to meet the health challenges of refugees, including professionals that emphasize health literacy.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09163-wAsylum seekersHealth informationHealth literacyMigrationMinority groups |
| spellingShingle | L. Mårtensson P. Lytsy R. Westerling J. Wångdahl Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden BMC Public Health Asylum seekers Health information Health literacy Migration Minority groups |
| title | Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden |
| title_full | Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden |
| title_fullStr | Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden |
| title_short | Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden |
| title_sort | experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in sweden |
| topic | Asylum seekers Health information Health literacy Migration Minority groups |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09163-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lmartensson experiencesandneedsconcerninghealthrelatedinformationfornewlyarrivedrefugeesinsweden AT plytsy experiencesandneedsconcerninghealthrelatedinformationfornewlyarrivedrefugeesinsweden AT rwesterling experiencesandneedsconcerninghealthrelatedinformationfornewlyarrivedrefugeesinsweden AT jwangdahl experiencesandneedsconcerninghealthrelatedinformationfornewlyarrivedrefugeesinsweden |