BackgroundThe rights of undocumented migrants are frequently overlooked. Denmark has ratified several international conventions recognizing the right to health care for all human beings, but has very scanty legislation and no existing policies for providing health care to undocumented migrants. This study focuses on how health professionals navigate and how they experience providing treatment for undocumented migrants in the Danish health care system.MethodsThe study was carried out as part of an EU-project on European Best Practices in Access, Quality and Appropriateness of Health Services for Immigrants in Europe (EUGATE). This presentation is based on 12 semi-structured interviews with general practitioners (9) and emergency room physicians (3) in Denmark.ResultsThe emergency room physicians express that treatment of undocumented migrants is no different from the treatment of any other person. However, care may become more complicated due to lack of previous medical records and contact persons. Contrary to this, general practitioners explain that undocumented migrants will encounter formal barriers when trying to obtain treatment. Additional problems in the treatment of undocumented migrants include language issues, financial aspects for general practitioners, concerns about how to handle the situation including possibilities of further referrals, and an uncertainty as to whether to involve the police.ConclusionsThe health professionals in our study describe that undocumented migrants experience an unequal access to primary care facilities and that great uncertainties exist amongst health professionals as how to respond in such situations. The lack of official policies concerning the right to health care for undocumented migrants continue to pass on the responsibility to health professionals and, thereby, leaves it up to the individual to decide whether treatment can be obtained or not.

The objective of this study was to evaluate, within the context of a randomized controlled trial of product effectiveness, the acceptability of new formulations of six corn-soy blended flours (CSB) and six lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) with different quantities of milk and qualities of soy for the treatment of children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Our study included 1546 children aged 6-23 months and involved questionnaires after one month of supplementation home visits and interviews with a sub-sample of 20 trial participants and their caretakers, and nine focus group discussion. All 12 products were well accepted in terms of organoleptic qualities and received good ratings. However, LNS were more appreciated by caretakers and children. Additionally, an effect of soy isolate was detected on child appreciation where products with high milk content also received better ratings. CSB were not consumed as readily; 33.9% (n = 257) of children receiving CSB were reported to have leftovers compared to 17.3% (n = 134) of children receiving LNS (p=<0.001). Both CSB and LNS were referred to as foods with medicinal properties and perceived as beneficial to child health. They were both reported to have high priority in the daily feeding of the child. In conclusion, there were minimal differences in acceptability of the various CSB and LNS formulations, although CSB were less readily consumed and required smaller meal volumes. Since all products were well-accepted, decisions regarding whether the more expensive products should be used for the treatment of MAM will need to be based on their effect on child nutrition, growth and health. Future supplementary feeding programs in similar contexts could furthermore consider introducing supplementary foods as a medical treatment, as this may increase adherence and decrease sharing.

flours (CSB) and six lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) with different quantities of milk and qualities of 43 soy to be used for the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Furthermore, we wanted to 44 explore the acceptability of foods currently used for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in Burkina 45 Faso to identify possible barriers that could affect the acceptability of the new formulations of 46 supplementary foods. The study was carried out prior to a randomized controlled trial evaluating the 47 effectiveness of these new formulations. 48 49The study involved an observed test-meal and a three-day take-home ration of the experimental food 50 supplements to 6-30-months-old

Background: Health policies are important instruments for improving population health. However, experience suggests that policies designed for the whole population do not always benefit the most vulnerable. Participation of vulnerable groups in the policy-making process provides an opportunity for them to influence decisions related to their health, and also to exercise their rights. This paper presents the findings from a study that explored how vulnerable groups and principles of human rights are incorporated into national sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies of 4 selected countries (Spain, Scotland, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine). It also aimed at discussing the involvement of vulnerable groups in SRH policy development from the perspective of policymakers. Methods: Literature review, health policy analysis and 5 semi-structured interviews with policy-makers were carried out in this study. Content analysis of SRH policies was performed using the EquiFrame analytical framework. Results:The study revealed that vulnerable groups and core principles of human rights are differently addressed in SRH policies within 4 studied countries. The opinions of policy-makers on the importance of mentioning vulnerable groups in policy documents and the way they ought to be mentioned varied, but they agreed that a clear definition of vulnerability, practical examples, and evidences on health status of these groups have to be included. In addition, different approaches to vulnerable group's involvement in policy development were identified during the interviews and the range of obstacles to this process was discussed by respondents. Conclusion: Incorporation of vulnerable groups in the SRH policies and their involvement in policy development were found to be important in addressing SRH of these groups and providing an opportunity for them to advocate for equal access to healthcare and exercise their rights. Future research on this topic should include representatives of vulnerable communities which could help to build a dialogue and present the problem from multiple perspectives. Implications for policy makers• Evidence on health status of vulnerable communities and political commitment are crucial for addressing vulnerable groups in health policies and promote their involvement in the policy development process. • Future research on policy development process and vulnerable groups' involvement should include representatives of vulnerable communities that will help to build a dialogue and present the problem from multiple perspectives.• Clear tools and recommendation on how to include vulnerable groups in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies have to be developed through collaboration of various stakeholders. • Moreover, the concept of vulnerability has to be further discussed more in depth, and categorization of groups and populations as "vulnerable" has to be well-founded and unified, in particular in the European context. Implications for publicThe study findings showed that incorporation of vul...

Introduction : L’objectif de ce texte est de présenter des logiques qui influencent le refus de se soigner directement au centre de santé, en dehors de l’obstacle financier fréquemment évoqué dans diverses études. Méthodes : L’étude repose sur une enquête ethnographique. Les techniques des entretiens semi-directifs, des observations directes et des entretiens libres (approfondis et centrés sur des récits de vie) ont été mobilisées au cours de cette enquête. Résultats : L’évitement du recours aux structures sanitaires a été étudié pour une dizaine de personnes. Bien qu’elles disposent de ressources économiques pour poursuivre des soins biomédicaux quand elles sont malades, certaines personnes sont animées par un désir d’indépendance ou de souveraineté qui les amène à préférer initialement la voie de l’automédication. Discussion : Les logiques favorisant ce désir d’indépendance ou de souveraineté sont analysées autour de quatre axes : le poids des connaissances profanes ; la volonté d’anticipation sur la prescription médicale (essayer de se soigner soi-même) ; l’emprise des occupations professionnelles, et le manque de confiance envers l’agent de santé. Conclusion : Ces logiques affectent le recours aux centres de santé. Dans un contexte de mortalité élevée, une prise en compte de ces logiques est nécessaire pour améliorer l’attrait de l’offre de santé dans le secteur formel.