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Al-Adhami M, Durbeej N, Daryani A, Wångdahl J, Larsson EC, Salari R. Can extended health communication improve newly settled refugees' health literacy? A quasi-experimental study from Sweden. Health Promot Int 2024; 39:daae015. [PMID: 38430509 PMCID: PMC10908352 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural and contextual factors such as limited work and housing opportunities negatively affect the health and well-being of newly settled refugee migrants in receiving high-income countries. Health promotion initiatives aiming at strengthening health and integration have been tried out within the Swedish Introduction program for refugee migrants. However, longitudinal evaluations of these interventions are rare. The aim of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of a regular and an extended civic orientation course with added health communication and examine whether the latter would improve self-rated health and psychological well-being, health literacy and social capital among newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden. Pre- and post-assessment questionnaires were collected from the intervention group receiving the extended course (n = 143) and a control group receiving the regular course (n = 173). Linear mixed models and chi-square analyses showed a significant increase with a small effect size (0.21) in health literacy in the intervention group. However, there were no significant changes in emotional and practical support, general self-rated health or psychological well-being. The findings indicate that added health communication provided embedded in the civic orientation course can increase health literacy. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the sustainability of the observed effect and examine whether these short-term improvements in health literacy translate to long-term advances in health and integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maissa Al-Adhami
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research and Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Natalie Durbeej
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Achraf Daryani
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josefin Wångdahl
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elin C Larsson
- Research and Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raziye Salari
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
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Gottvall M, Kissiti R, Ainembabazi R, Bergman H, Eldebo A, Isaac R, Yasin S, Jirwe M, Carlsson T. Mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions: health professionals' descriptions and interpretations. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38250794 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2023.2298479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore health professionals' descriptions and interpretations of post-migration mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Participants representing seven professions were recruited by a combination of convenience, purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through focus groups and individual interviews, analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process involving researchers, clinicians and migrants with lived experiences. Participants described a challenging trajectory for migrants, as migrants venture through an uncertain and demanding journey impacting their mental health. Needing to deal with legal requirements, stressful circumstances and normative expectations during the asylum process were highlighted as major challenges, along with exposure to discrimination, violence, abuse and lack of psychosocial safety. Participants described significant psychological distress among migrants, including loneliness and shame. Challenges were also recognised related to exploring, accepting and expressing sexuality and gender. Loneliness and shame are major challenges in need of further attention in research, which could be addressed through the development and evaluation of actions, programmes and interventions to provide peer support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gottvall
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
- The Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rogers Kissiti
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ronah Ainembabazi
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hannah Bergman
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Anna Eldebo
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Rummage Isaac
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sumera Yasin
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Maria Jirwe
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
- The Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Tommy Carlsson
- The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden
- The Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Al-Adhami M, Wångdahl J, Salari R, Åkerman E. "Putting words to their feelings"- civic communicators' perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:510. [PMID: 37208683 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09524-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Newly settled refugee migrants face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, during- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, mental health promotion is part of the health module in the civic orientation classes for newly settled refugee migrants. Training courses are offered to civic communicators and workshop leaders to facilitate communication about mental health; however, the training is seldom evaluated. In the current study, we aim to explore civic communicators' perceptions and experiences of an in-depth mental health training course in relation to observed needs among newly settled refugee migrants. METHOD We interviewed ten civic communicators that had partaken in the in-depth training course on mental health. All respondents had prior migratory experience and worked as civic communicators in their native languages. The interviews were semi-structured and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Three themes were identified: (1) Intertwined mental health needs related to migration, (2) Multi-layered barriers to addressing mental health, and (3) Becoming aware of the mental health journey. One overarching theme was arrived at through synthesizing the three themes 'Acquired new tools to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being'. CONCLUSION The in-depth mental health training course led to the attainment of new knowledge and new tools enabling civic communicators to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being with newly settled refugee migrants. Mental health needs were related to pre- and post-migration experiences. Barriers to talking about mental health included stigma and a lack of arenas to promote the mental health of refugee migrants. Increasing knowledge among civic communicators can facilitate the promotion of mental self-help capacity and resilience among newly settled refugee migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maissa Al-Adhami
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research and Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD), Uppsala University, Box 564, Uppsala, 751 22, Sweden.
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Uppsala University, Box 564, Uppsala, 751 22, Sweden.
| | - Josefin Wångdahl
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Uppsala University, Box 564, Uppsala, 751 22, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Solna, Sweden
| | - Raziye Salari
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Uppsala University, Box 564, Uppsala, 751 22, Sweden
| | - Eva Åkerman
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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