“I Just Want Some Clear Answers”: Challenges and Tactics Adopted by Migrants in Denmark When Accessing Health Risk Information about COVID-19

Abstract

Health risk communication plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of infectious disease outbreaks such as the current coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Yet, migrants are far too often forgotten in health risk communication responses. We investigate the challenges and efforts made by migrants in Denmark—in the initial months of the pandemic—to access information about COVID-19. We draw on 18 semi-structured interviews conducted in May and June 2020. All interviews are thematically coded and analyzed. Our analysis reveals that many of the migrants faced several challenges, including accessing information in a language understandable to them and navigating constant streams of official news flows issuing instructions about which actions to take. However, we also note that the participating migrants found numerous creative ways to address some of these challenges, often aided by digital tools, helping them access crucial health and risk information. This paper highlights that migrants constitute an underserved group in times of crises. They are vulnerable to getting left behind in pandemic communication responses. However, we also identify key protective factors, social resources, and agentic capabilities, which help them cope with health and risk information deficits. National governments need to take heed of these findings to inform future pandemic responses.

Experience of discrimination during COVID-19 pandemic: the impact of public health measures and psychological distress among refugees and other migrants in Europe

“…Our findings and previous studies suggest that difficulties at following the recommendations against COVID-19 infection are higher among those with more unstable housing and residence status, which is likely due to no available income when the guidelines implied to buy products (mask, certain soap, disinfectant, etc.) [ 2 , 52 ]. Also, access to information about COVID-19 preventive measures is a challenge in such conditions [ 9 , 52 ].…”

“…[ 2 , 52 ]. Also, access to information about COVID-19 preventive measures is a challenge in such conditions [ 9 , 52 ]. That could be experienced by migrants as the failure of their migration project and social protection programs, leading them to lose trust in the host country.…”

“…Furthermore, the use of qualitative data may be useful to better understand the nuances of the subjective experience of refugees and migrants and to let their voices heard. For instance, research using qualitative data found that during COVID-19 pandemics many of the migrants faced several challenges in accessing information in a language understandable to them and navigating constant streams of official news flows issuing instructions about which actions to take [ 52 ]. However, migrants have also found creative ways to address some of these challenges, often aided by digital tools [ 9 ].…”

Association of sociodemographic characteristics with self-perceived access to COVID-19 information and adherence to preventive measures among migrant origin and general populations in Finland: a cross-sectional study

“…From the onset of the pandemic, significant concerns were raised regarding equity in access to information among migrant origin populations. Difficulties in accessing up-to-date and reliable information occurred due to language barriers, lack of trust in the health system and gaps in health and digital literacy 7–9. Inequities in access to information may lead to stress, lower awareness and, hence, also lower adherence to preventive measures 7 10 11.…”

Disparities in the offer of COVID-19 vaccination to migrants and non-migrants in Norway: a cross sectional survey study

“…1 Steps to vaccine uptake at the time of the survey in Oslo account the population's social determinants of health, resulting in five abilities needed by individuals and populations to be able to use the health care system: to perceive, to seek, to reach, to pay, and to engage in healthcare. Several studies have reported lower vaccination rates among migrants, and most authors have tried to understand the reasons why migrants and ethnic minorities do not get vaccinated in terms of misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, discrimination or medical mistrust [7,[14][15][16][17][18][19]. Although all these factors contribute to lower vaccination rates, they do not cover one of the necessary steps for a person to get vaccinated: the perception, this is to say the receipt and identification, of an offer.…”