Migration health research in the Nordic countries: Priorities and implications for public health

Abstract

The past 50 years have witnessed an increase in immigration to the Nordic countries from and beyond neighbouring countries in Europe. Diversity implies variations and differences in health status and health outcomes both within and across populations. Migrant health research has not been prioritized and health policies and practice, especially long-term national plans, often exclude migrants. In this article, we briefly trace the history, the groups, reasons for migration and the road to migrant health research in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. We discuss the case for data and research including needs, basis for data collection and the methodological challenges. We provide a brief snapshot of migrant health research, identify current gaps and discuss the implications for research. We recommend a regional Nordic strategy to promote intercountry exchange, sharing and learning. Finally, we reflect on the larger picture, implications for policy and practice that could enable societal conditions to reduce avoidable health inequalities.

Increasing perceived health and mental health literacy among separated refugee Ukrainian families with urgent needs occasioned by invasion—a group intervention study with participatory methodology in Sweden

“…According to Kumar et al (1), migrant health research in the Nordic countries has yet not been prioritized and health policies and practice, especially long-term national plans, often exclude migrants and implications for policy and practice that could enable societal conditions to reduce avoidable health inequalities.…”

“…The groups were closed to increase trust during each session. There were eight basic principles: (1) The interpreter had a duty of confidentiality and translated everything said in the room. (2) Everything said in the room stayed in the room.…”

“…Several studies have shown that a prolonged asylum process not only increases the risk of ill health but also increases the risk of failed integration. This, in turn, can lead to segregation, exclusion, and mental illness (1). The ADAPT model (2) recognizes five main psychosocial posts, which may be disordered by conflict, separation, and displacement, i.e., systems of safety and security, interpersonal bonds and networks, justice, roles and identities, and existential meaning and coherence.…”

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“…The momentum achieved so far must be continued and in doing so it is time to address the unfinished agenda by moving beyond researcher driven ‘cherry picking’ of migrant groups and topics to unmet needs of services and user groups. Recent literature, including landmark studies indicate a mismatch between public perception and current evidence about migration health [1,2]. For this narrative to change, relevant and appropriate evidence must be generated and applied.…”