Prevalence of perceived discrimination, determinants and associations with self-rated general and sexual health, healthcare utilization and self-perceived integration: a cross-sectional survey of migrants in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Sweden has welcomed migrants, but attitudes have shifted, becoming hostile due to populism and the growing number of migrants. This has left migrants feeling unwelcome and marginalized. Few studies have examined the extent to which migrants perceive discrimination, who, why, where and its relationships with different outcomes. This study has two aims: to assess the prevalence, reasons, and determinants of perceived discrimination among migrants (1) and its associations with self-rated health, sexual health, healthcare use, and integration (2). METHODS: We analysed data from a 2018 survey on migrants' sexual and reproductive health and rights. The survey included 1740 migrants aged 16 or older. We used descriptive and log-binomial regression analyses to estimate prevalence, crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: About 36% of participants perceived discrimination in Sweden, with ethnic origin (62%) and religion (35%) as main reasons. Perceived discrimination occurred in public spaces (47%), schools (33%), internet (20%), work (19%), public services (18%), residential areas (16%), and healthcare settings (10%). Migrant men (APR: 1.26, CI:1.07-1.49), born in Middle East and North Africa (APR: 1.57, CI:1.26-1.95) and South Asia (APR: 1.61, CI:1.27-2.04) regions, with more than 12 years of education (APR: 1.33, CI:1.10-1.60), a non-heterosexual orientation (APR: 1.21, CI: 1.02-1.43), a non-Christian religion (APR: 1.41, CI: 1.10-1.80), economic stress (APR:1.67, CI: 1.44-1.93) or Swedish language skills (APR: 1.24, CI:1.07-1.43) perceived discrimination more than their counterparts. In contrast, the oldest participants (46 years or more) perceived less discrimination (APR:0.55, CI: 0.37-0.80) than the youngest ones (16-25 years). Moreover, perceived discrimination was associated with poor self-rated general (APR:1.72, CI: 1.45-2.04) and sexual health (APR:1.40, CI:1.2-1.64), integration (APR:1.25, CI:1.14-1.37), and healthcare access (APR: 1.48, 1.16-1.89). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that migrants in Sweden face widespread perceived discrimination based on ethnicity and religion. This can affect their health, healthcare use, and social integration. The study calls for policies and interventions that tackle systemic perceived discrimination, foster inclusion, and guarantee equal opportunities in accessing healthcare and resources for migrants. It also urges support for vulnerable groups who perceive more discrimination, such as migrants from certain regions or under economic stress.

Sexual violence victimisation and response among university students in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual violence (SV) is highly prevalent among university campuses across the globe, despite of several initiatives implemented to address it. Several studies have been published focusing on various aspects of SV on campuses. However, no review has been retrieved from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Database, Cochrane Library or Ovid examining evidence synthesis on prevalence, risk factors, victims and perpetrators, policies, laws and universities responses to SV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review aims to map the existing literature on SV victimisation among university students in SSA, related response strategies, and identify gaps in the evidence. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This review will follow JBI guidelines and will be conducted from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023. A team of five reviewers will screen eligible documents and articles for relevance from various data sources including electronic databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed and websites for government and agencies. Standard information for each study will be collected and a common analytical framework for all the primary documents will be conducted. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This review will involve analysis of published data only and therefore does not require ethics approval. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. REGISTRATION: This review has been registered with the Open Science Framework.

"Discrimination is harder to live with than the disease": an interview study of the perceptions and experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights among women living with HIV in Sweden.

Around 40% of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sweden are women. However, little is known about their experiences, particularly those related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This study aims to explore perceptions and experiences of SRHR among women living with HIV (LWH). Twelve interviews were conducted with women LWH from September to October 2019 and analysed using thematic analysis. The central theme describing participants' experiences of social relationships, intimate encounters and reproductive life, "Discrimination is harder to live with than the disease itself", is based on three themes that contain subthemes. Theme 1 describes how participants reconsider and reorient their sexual and reproductive life after diagnosis. Theme 2 highlights how (mis)perceptions of HIV affect sexual and reproductive life and lead to abusive treatment and internalisation. Theme 3 describes a paradoxical shift of responsibilities where participants experience being compelled to take greater responsibility in some situations and stripped of the right to decide in others. This study suggests that despite notable progress in HIV treatment, stigma and discrimination stemming from outdated beliefs and (mis)conceptions, ambiguous policies and guidelines, and unequal access to information affect SRHR experiences of women LWH more than the virus itself. The results emphasise the need to: update knowledge within healthcare settings and among the public; clarify ambiguous legislations and guidelines; ensure equal access to information to enable all women LWH to take informed decisions, make fully informed choices and realise their SRHR; and consider the diversity of women LWH and enable shared decision-making.

'HIV ended up in second place' - prioritizing social integration in the shadow of social exclusion: an interview study with migrants living with HIV in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Migrants are overrepresented among people living with HIV in Sweden as they often face conditions that increased their risk and vulnerability for HIV/STI infections prior, during or after migration. Yet, there is limited research on their experiences and perceptions of living with HIV in the Swedish context. This study aims to explore migrants' experiences of living with HIV in Sweden. METHODS: This is a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with 13 migrants from 11 countries living with HIV in Sweden. Interviews were analysed with thematic analysis using an intersectional perspective to explore the interactions of multiple social identities such as ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, age, and sexual orientation that shape an individual's or group's experiences. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in a main theme: 'Prioritizing social integration-HIV ends up in second place', which is based on four subthemes: 'Better opportunities in the new country than what the home country could offer', 'Better conditions for LGBTQI people than in the home country', 'Navigating a new system: linguistic and bureaucratic challenges' and 'Feeling like a second-class resident: racism, xenophobia and multiple discrimination'. The results suggest that migrants living with HIV in Sweden experience social integration as a greater challenge than HIV infection. Although the new country offers opportunities for better living conditions, many participants described being challenged in their daily life by linguistic and structural barriers in their encounters with public services. They are facing multiple discrimination simultaneously as migrants due to their multiple and intersecting identities (e.g. being non-white, foreigners/foreign-born and non-Swedish speakers), which is compounded by HIV status and thus limit their opportunities in the new country and too often result in an existence of exclusion. CONCLUSION: The study shows that most of the challenges that migrants living with HIV face are related to their status as migrants rather than HIV status, which is often not known by the public or authorities. These challenges are similar, but still differ depending on social position, previous experiences, time since arrival and since diagnosis. This emphasizes the importance of both intersectional, intersectoral and multisectoral approaches to address reported issues.

Young migrants' sexual rights in Sweden: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In national public health surveys including those assessing sexual and reproductive health, migrants generally tend to be underrepresented due to cultural, linguistic, structural and legal barriers, minimising the possibility to measure sexual rights' fulfilment in this group. This study aims to describe to what extent sexual rights of young migrants in Sweden are being fulfilled. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 1773 young (16-29 years) migrants by post, online, and at language schools and other venues. Sexual rights were operationalised and categorised into five domains adapted from the Guttmacher-Lancet Commission's definition. These domains included the right to: 1) access sexual and reproductive healthcare, 2) access information and education about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights, 3) have bodily integrity, 4) make free informed decisions about sexuality and sexual relations and 5) have a satisfying and safe sexual life. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the extent of fulfilment for each right. RESULTS: There were wide variations in the fulfilment of sexual rights between subgroups and among the five domains. Most respondents rated their sexual health as good/fair, however, 6.3% rated their sexual health as bad/very bad. While most of those who visited related services were satisfied, 17.4% of respondents refrained from visiting the services despite their needs. Around four in ten respondents did not know where to get information about sexuality and sexual health. One-fourth of respondents reported sexual violence. Another 12.7% were limited by family members or fellow countrymen regarding with whom they can have an intimate relationship. Most respondents were satisfied with their sexual life, except for 11.9%. Men, non-binary respondents, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, asexuals, those who were awaiting a decision regarding residence permit and those born in South Asia reported poor sexual health to a greater extent and fulfilment of their sexual rights to a lesser extent than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Timely and culturally adapted information about sexual rights, gender equalities, laws and available services in Sweden should be provided in appropriate languages and formats in order to raise awareness about sexual rights and improve access to available services. Tailored attention should be paid to specific vulnerable subgroups.

Evidence and gaps in the literature on HIV/STI prevention interventions targeting migrants in receiving countries: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that migration increases vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, there is limited knowledge about what has been done or needs to be done to address migrants' vulnerability in receiving countries. OBJECTIVES: A scoping review was carried out to map the existing literature in this field, describe its characteristics, identify gaps in knowledge and determine whether a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)-perspective was applied. METHODS: We used the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews and subsequent enhancements proposed by other authors. We searched three databases and grey literature to identify relevant publications. RESULTS: A total of 1,147 records were found across the three electronic databases and compiled. Of these, only 29 papers that met the inclusion criteria were included. The review shows that research in this field is dominated by studies from the USA that mostly include behavioural interventions for HIV and HBV prevention among migrants from Latin America and Asian countries, respectively. None of the interventions integrated an SRHR perspective. The intervention effects varied across studies and measured outcomes. The observed effects on knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, behavioural intentions and skills were largely positive, but reported effects on testing and sexual risk behaviours were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for good quality research, particularly in parts of the world other than the USA that will address all STIs and specifically target the most vulnerable subgroups of migrants. Further research requires greater scope and depth, including the need to apply an SRHR perspective and incorporate biomedical and structural interventions to address the interacting causes of migrants' vulnerability to HIV/STIs.

"A one-size-fits-all model is not good"?: ambivalent perceptions and experiences of African immigrant parents towards Swedish sexual and reproductive health services for young people.

OBJECTIVE: Parents have a key role regarding young people's access to sexual and reproductive health services, thus their perceptions go a long way towards promoting or discouraging young people from using such services. Research has revealed that immigrant young people in Sweden access these essential services to a lesser extent than their native peers, and that they perceive their parents as unsupportive of such visits. This pilot study's objective was to explore immigrant parents' perceptions and experiences of the sexual and reproductive health services provided by Swedish youth clinics. RESULTS: Two categories were developed from the data analysis: (i) Youth clinics are well-known (to some) and appreciated (to a certain extent), and (ii) Parents feel left out from youth clinics and that the clinics have taken over parental responsibility. This study presents an ambivalent scenario connected to immigrant parents' experiences and perceptions of having neither a space nor a voice within the existing youth clinic model. Parents expressed the desire for the youth clinics to recognise their cultural backgrounds, norms, and beliefs while providing sexual and reproductive health services to their children.

Perspectives and experiences of new migrants on health screening in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: In Sweden, migrants from countries considered to have a high burden of certain infectious diseases are offered health screening to prevent the spread of these diseases, but also identify their health needs. However, very little is known about their experiences and perceptions about the screening process. This study aimed at exploring these perceptions and experiences in order to inform policy and clinical practice. METHOD: Using an interpretive description framework, 26 new migrants were interviewed between April and June 2013 in four Swedish counties. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. RESULTS: The three themes developed include: new country, new practices; new requirements in the new country; and unmet needs and expectations. Participants described what it meant for them to come to a new country with a foreign language, new ways of communicating with caregivers/authorities and being offered health screening without clarification. Participants perceived health screening as a requirement from the authorities to be fulfilled by all newcomers but conceded that it benefits equally the host society and themselves. However, they also expressed concern over the involvement of the Migration Board staff and feared possible collaboration with health service to their detriment. They further stated that the screening program fell short of their expectations as it mainly focused on identifying infectious diseases and overlooked their actual health needs. Finally, they expressed frustration over delay in screening, poor living conditions in reception centers and the restrictive entitlement to care. CONCLUSIONS: Migrants are aware of their vulnerability and the need to undergo health screening though they view it as an official requirement. Thus, those who underwent the screening were more concerned about residency rather than the actual benefits of screening. The issues highlighted in this study may limit access to and uptake of the screening service, and compromise its effectiveness. To maximize the uptake: (1) linguistically and culturally adapted information is needed, (2) other screening approaches should be tried, (3) trained medical interpreters should be used, (4) a holistic and human right approach should be applied, (5) the involvement of migration staff should be reconsidered to avoid confusion and worries. Finally, to improve the effectiveness, (6) all migrants from targeted countries should be offered screening and efforts should be taken to improve the health literacy of migrants and the living conditions in reception centers.

"It is a challenge to do it the right way": an interpretive description of caregivers' experiences in caring for migrant patients in Northern Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Experiences from nations with population diversity show extensive evidence on the need for cultural and linguistic competence in health care. In Sweden, despite the increasing diversity, only few studies have focused on challenges in cross-cultural care. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of caregivers in caring for migrant patients in Northern Sweden in order to understand the challenges they face and generate knowledge that could inform clinical practice. METHODS: We used an interpretive description approach, combining semi-structured interviews with 10 caregivers purposively selected and participant observation of patient-provider interactions in caring encounters. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis approach. Field notes were also used to orient data collection and confirm or challenge the analysis. RESULTS: We found complex and intertwined challenges as indicated in the three themes we present including: the sociocultural diversity, the language barrier and the challenges migrants face in navigating through the Swedish health care system. The caregivers described migrants as a heterogeneous group coming from different geographical areas with varied social, cultural and religious affiliations, migration histories and statuses, all of which influenced the health care encounter, whether providing or receiving. Participants also described language as a major barrier to effective provision and use of health services. Meanwhile, they expressed concern over the use of interpreters in the triad communication and over the difficulties encountered by migrants in navigating through the Swedish health care system. CONCLUSIONS: The study illuminates complex challenges facing health care providers caring for migrant populations and highlights the need for multifaceted approaches to improve the delivery and receipt of care. The policy implications of these challenges are discussed in relation to the need to (a) adapt care to the individual needs, (b) translate key documents and messages in formats and languages accessible and acceptable to migrants, (c) train interpreters and enhance caregivers' contextual understanding of migrant groups and their needs, (d) and improve migrants' health literacy through strategies such as community based educational outreach.

Fear of deportation may limit legal immigrants' access to HIV/AIDS-related care: a survey of Swedish language school students in Northern Sweden.

The increasing rates of HIV infection that are currently being reported in high-income countries can be partly explained by migration from countries with generalized epidemics. Yet, early diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in immigrants remains a challenge. This study investigated factors that might be limiting immigrants' access to HIV/AIDS care. Data from 268 legal immigrant students of two Swedish language schools in Northern Sweden were analyzed using logistic regression. Thirty-seven percent reported reluctance to seek medical attention if they had HIV/AIDS. Fear of deportation emerged as the most important determinant of reluctance to seek care after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, knowledge level, stigmatizing attitudes and fear of disclosure. Targeted interventions should consider the heterogeneity of migrant communities and the complex interplay of various factors which may impede access to HIV-related services. The myth about deportation because of HIV/AIDS should be countered.