Reasons for early marriage of Syrian migrant young women: Qualitative study

It is aimed to examine the reasons of Syrian migrant women getting married early. Universe selection has not been made. Participants were reached using the snowball sampling method. In this phenomenological qualitative study, 4 main themes were created with the method of description and examined. It has been determined that poverty, family coercion, love and the losses they suffered during the war are effective in the early marriage of Syrian migrant women. It has been investigated that most of the factors determined in the early marriage of Syrian migrant women are situations that develop against their will and that these women have to marry at an early age.

[Barriers and facilitators to confronting HIV/aids and syphilis experienced by Venezuelan women living in BrazilFactores facilitadores y barreras que tienen las mujeres venezolanas residentes en Brasil respecto de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis]. / Barreiras e facilitadores do enfrentamento de HIV/aids e sífilis por venezuelanas residentes no Brasil.

Objective: To describe the perception of Venezuelan women regarding access to health care, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/aids and syphilis in Brazil. Method: This is a descriptive, exploratory study employing a qualitative approach, performed from February to May 2021 in the municipalities of Manaus, state of Amazonas, and Boa Vista, state of Roraima. The interviews with participants were fully transcribed, with identification of themes based on content analysis. Results: Forty women were interviewed (20 in Manaus and 20 in Boa Vista). Following transcription and translation of the accounts, two analytical categories were identified: barriers to healthcare access, with four subcategories - language, cost, adverse drug reactions, and COVID-19 pandemic; and facilitators of healthcare access, again with four subcategories - Unified Health System (SUS), National Policy of Comprehensive Women's Health, National Social Assistance Policy, and relationship between healthcare professionals and SUS users. Conclusion: The results showed the need to design strategies to mitigate the difficulties faced by migrant women from Venezuela living in Brazil regarding the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/aids and syphilis, going beyond the healthcare support guaranteed by law.

Objetivo: Describir la percepción de las mujeres venezolanas sobre el acceso a los servicios de salud, al diagnóstico y al tratamiento de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis en Brasil. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con enfoque cualitativo, realizado entre febrero y mayo del 2021 en los municipios de Manaos, estado de Amazonas, y Boa Vista, estado de Roraima. Las entrevistas con las participantes se transcribieron en su totalidad, y se exploraron los puntos de interés según el análisis del contenido. Resultados: Se entrevistaron 40 mujeres (20 en Manaos y 20 en Boa Vista). A partir de la transcripción y la traducción de las conversaciones, se establecieron dos categorías para el análisis del contenido: las barreras de acceso a los servicios de salud (subcategorías: idioma, costos relacionados con la salud, reacciones adversas a los medicamentos y pandemia de COVID-19); y los factores facilitadores del acceso (cuatro subcategorías: Sistema Único de Salud, Política nacional de Atención Integral a la Salud de la Mujer, Política Nacional de Asistencia Social y relación entre los profesionales de salud y las usuarias del Sistema Único de Salud). Conclusión: Los resultados mostraron la necesidad de formular estrategias para mitigar las dificultades que enfrentan las mujeres migrantes de Venezuela residentes en Brasil en relación con el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis, más allá de la protección de la salud garantizada por la ley.

Differences in incidence, nature of symptoms, and duration of long COVID among hospitalised migrant and non-migrant patients in the Netherlands: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Comprehensive data on long COVID across ethnic and migrant groups are lacking. We investigated incidence, nature of symptoms, clinical predictors, and duration of long COVID among COVID-19 hospitalised patients in the Netherlands by migration background (Dutch, Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese origin, Others). Methods: We used COVID-19 admissions and follow up data (January 2021-July 2022) from Amsterdam University Medical Centers. We calculated long COVID incidence proportions per NICE guidelines by migration background and assessed for clinical predictors via robust Poisson regressions. We then examined associations between migration background and long COVID using robust Poisson regressions and adjusted for derived clinical predictors, and other biologically relevant factors. We also assessed long COVID symptom persistence at one-year post-discharge. Findings: 1886 patients were included. 483 patients had long COVID (26%, 95% CI 24-28%) at 12 weeks post-discharge. Symptoms like dizziness, joint pain, insomnia, and headache varied by migration background. Clinical predictors of long COVID were female sex, hospital admission duration, intensive care unit admission, and receiving oxygen, or corticosteroid therapy. Long COVID risk was higher among patients with migration background than Dutch origin patients after adjustments for derived clinical predictors, age, smoking, vaccination status, comorbidities and remdesivir treatment. Only 14% of long COVID symptoms persisted at one-year post-discharge. Interpretation: There are significant differences in occurrence, nature of symptoms, and duration of long COVID by migration background. Studies assessing the spectrum of functional limitation and access to post-COVID healthcare are needed to help plan for appropriate and accessible healthcare interventions. Funding: The Amsterdam UMC COVID-19 biobank is supported by the Amsterdam UMC Corona Research Fund and the Talud Foundation (Stichting Talud). The current analyses were supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation [NNF21OC0067528].

Ten-year hospitalization trends in Mexico: Examining the profile of national and transient and migrants.

Aim: In Mexico, as in other societies, migrants are seen as over-users of health services. However, the extent, distribution, and trends of use over time are unknown. Evidence is needed to inform health policies and improve health services for foreign patients. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with the distribution and trends of Mexican and foreign resident hospitalizations in Mexican public hospitals from 2010 to 2020. Methods: A graphical and statistical analysis (descriptive and correlational) of discharge trends in public hospitals was carried out. Hospitalization trends were analyzed by country of habitual residence (Mexico, US, Central and South America, and Other Continents), age, sex, primary discharge category, and region of service delivery. Adjusted Poisson modeling was used to examine the factors associated with annual hospitalizations of Mexican and foreign residents. Results: Between 2010 and 2020, there were 26,780,808 hospitalizations in Mexican public hospitals. Of these, 0.05% were of foreign residents. Hospitalizations for Mexican residents remained stable from 2010 to 2019, while those for foreign residents trended upward over the same period. In 2020, hospitalizations of Mexican residents fell by 36.6%, while foreign resident hospitalizations fell by 348.8%. The distribution of hospitalizations by sex was higher among females for all categories of habitual residence, except among US residents. Obstetric discharges were the most common reason for hospitalization among Mexican residents (42.45%), Central and South American residents (42.24%), and residents from Other Continents (13.73%). The average hospital stay was 2 days. Poisson regression confirmed these results, showing that hospitalizations was higher among women (except among foreign residents) and in the ≤ 17 age group. Poisson modeling also showed that trauma injury was the leading cause of discharge for foreign residents after obstetric causes. Discussion: It is unlikely the upward trend in hospitalizations among foreign residents in Mexico from 2010 to 2019 affected the Mexican public health system, given the small proportion (0.05%) of hospitalizations and the brief length of hospital stay. The increased number of hospitalizations during the study period may be explained by local and national measures to facilitate foreign residents' access to hospital services, while the decrease in hospital utilization in 2020 is likely associated with COVID-19. Geographic location and the most frequent primary discharge categories of hospitalizations within each population could provide evidence for modifications to public health policy in Mexico.

Migrant Health and COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study of Characteristics, Clinical Features, and Health Outcome from Iran.

BACKGROUND: As the pandemic unfolds, major concerns remain with those in disadvantaged positions who may be disproportionately affected. This paper aimed to present the characteristics of COVID-19 immigrant patients and investigate whether they were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using data on 589,146 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Iran. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize the study population's characteristics. Chi-squared test and logistic regression model were applied. RESULTS: After accounting for possible confounding covariates, being an immigrant was significantly associated with increased risk of death due to COVID-19 (OR 1.64, CI 1.568-1.727). When compared to Iranian-born patients, the prevalence of low blood oxygen levels on admission was higher among immigrant patients (53.9% versus 47.7%, P value < 0.001). Moreover, greater proportions of immigrants who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were admitted to an ICU (17% versus 15.8%, P value < 0.001). Patients aged 65 and above were the largest age category in both populations. However, there was a significant difference between the age profiles of patients, with children under the age of eighteen presenting 16% of immigrant patients vs 6.6% of Iranian-born patients (P value < 0.001). In both groups, more men were affected by COVID-19 than women, yet the sex bias was more prominent for migrant patients (P value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The evidence from this study revealed that immigrant patients infected with COVID-19 were more likely to suffer from severe health outcome of the disease compared to Iranian-born patients.

How Do Health Teams Perceive International Migrant Users of Primary Care?

The following study aims to describe the perception of international migrants who use the primary level of care by health personnel and to explore how this perception can affect the care process in the commune of Antofagasta, north of Chile. Methodology: The methodology was qualitative using a phenomenological descriptive design, through which the discourses of the health personnel of three primary health care centers (n = 14) were explored. Results: The participants presented two thematic categories. The first one related to experiences during delivery of care to migrants and included perceptions and beliefs, factors associated with using services, and reasons for consultation. The second category related to stereotypes towards migrants, including prejudices, beliefs about their lives and reasons for migration. Conclusions: The therapeutic relationship with migrants in primary care depends on the health care personnel's acceptability of this population, hence, allowing the delivery of care based on respect for their culture and rights.

Social Support for Acculturative Stress, Job Stress, and Perceived Discrimination Among Migrant Workers Moderates COVID-19 Pandemic Depression.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the practical moderating effect of social support on the relationship between acculturative stress, job stress, and perceived discrimination, and depression among migrant workers during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic as a vulnerable group susceptible to mental health problems. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional descriptive study were collected using an online survey from 214 Vietnamese and Cambodian migrant workers, who are among the largest migrant groups residing in South Korea. Participants were asked to report on acculturative stress, job stress, perceived discrimination, depression, and social support through questionnaires in their native languages. Results: The findings showed that acculturative stress affected depression, and this effect was moderated by social support. The impact of acculturative stress on depression was significant in the group with low mean scores of social support. However, the effect of the interaction of social support on the relationship of job stress and perceived discrimination to depression was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the need for differentiated strategies to improve the mental health of migrant workers based on the level of social support.

Immunisation resources for nurses

The article offers medical news briefs in United Kingdom (UK), including the immunisation leaflet for migrants published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the competence assessment tool for immunisers published by the Royal College of Nursing.

Tools, guidance and key events for general practice nurses

The article reports on the tools, guidelines and major events for general practice nurses in United Kingdom (UK), including the updated duty of candour guidance from the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the scheduled Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal [2021;Vol.27, Issue 12]

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the official health journal published by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization. It is a forum for the presentation and promotion of new policies and initiatives in health services;and for the exchange of ideas concepts epidemiological data research findings and other information with special reference to the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It addresses all members of the health profession medical and other health educational institutes interested NGOs WHO Collaborating Centres and individuals within and outside the Region المجلة الصحية لشرق المتوسط هى المجلة الرسمية التى تصدرعن المكتب الاقليمى لشرق المتوسط بمنظمة الصحة العالمية. وهى منبر لتقديم السياسات والمبادرات الجديدة فى الصحة العامة والخدمات الصحية والترويج لها، و لتبادل الاراء و المفاهيم والمعطيات الوبائية ونتائج الابحاث وغير ذلك من المعلومات، و خاصة ما يتعلق منها باقليم شرق المتوسط. وهى موجهة الى كل اعضاء المهن الصحية، والكليات الطبية وسائر المعاهد التعليمية، و كذا المنظمات غير الحكومية المعنية، والمراكز المتعاونة مع منظمة الصحة العالمية والافراد المهتمين بالصحة فى الاقليم و خارجه La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée Orientale est une revue de santé officielle publiée par le Bureau régional de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé pour la Méditerranée orientale. Elle offre une tribune pour la présentation et la promotion de nouvelles politiques et initiatives dans le domaine de la santé publique et des services de santé ainsi qu’à l’échange d’idées de concepts de données épidémiologiques de résultats de recherches et d’autres informations se rapportant plus particulièrement à la Région de la Méditerranée orientale. Elle s’adresse à tous les professionnels de la santé aux membres des instituts médicaux et autres instituts de formation médico-sanitaire aux ONG Centres collaborateurs de l’OMS et personnes concernés au sein et hors de la Région

Feeling prepared to face COVID-19 pandemic among Venezuelans in Chile: findings from an opinion poll.

INTRODUCTION: International migration is a social determinant of health. The past decade has seen a large exodus of Venezuelans within Latin America, including Chile. In the past months, the world has been facing the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic and its respiratory disease COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To explore what factors are associated with feeling prepared to face the COVID-19 pandemic among the Venezuelan population residing in Chile. METHODS: Cross-sectional quantitative study with an opinion poll design. An online self-reported survey in Spanish and Creole was designed and piloted with experts and international migrants. It was disseminated to various international migrant groups through networks of migrant and pro-migrant organizations and the Chilean public health care network across the national territory. An effective sample size for analysis of 1690 participants was reached, of which 1008 (60%) were from Venezuela and included in this analysis. Feeling prepared to face the COVID-19 pandemic (yes/no) among Venezuelan migrants was described, as well as relevant variables like sex, level of education, length of stay, healthcare provision, anxiety or depression due to COVID-19, confinement, and evaluation of the quality of the information provided by the COVID-19 government. RESULTS: 65% of the Venezuelan participants reported not feeling prepared for the pandemic. Compared to Venezuelan migrants who feel prepared to face the COVID-19 pandemic, migrants who reported not feeling prepared were in a higher proportion female, with secondary education level, had arrived in Chile in the past year, do not have a job but want to work, and belong to the public healthcare provision. DISCUSSION: Receiving good quality information on the pandemic and mental health symptoms are important factors associated with feeling prepared to face COVID-19 in Venezuelan migrants in Chile, suggesting that increased attention towards the physical and mental health of Venezuelan migrants in Chile and the region is needed.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La migración internacional es un determinante social de la salud que puede influir en los resultados de salud de un individuo y su comunidad. La última década ha experimentado un gran éxodo desde Venezuela a otros países de la región, incluido Chile. En los últimos meses, el mundo se ha enfrentado a la pandemia de coronavirus del SARS-CoV-2 y su enfermedad respiratoria COVID-19. OBJETIVO: Explorar qué factores están asociados con sentirse preparado para enfrentar la pandemia de COVID-19 entre la población venezolana que reside en Chile. MÉTODOS: Estudio cuantitativo transversal, siguiendo el diseño de una encuesta de opinión. Encuesta auto-aplicada en línea en español y Creol haitiano, que fue diseñada y puesta a prueba con expertos y migrantes internacionales. Se difundió a varios grupos internacionales de migrantes a través de redes de organizaciones de migrantes y pro-migrantes, así como a través de la red chilena de atención de salud pública en todo el territorio nacional. Tamaño de muestra de 1690 participantes, de los cuales 1008 (60%) eran de Venezuela y se incluyeron en este análisis descriptivo. Se analizó en forma descriptiva la variable principal sentirse preparado para enfrentar la pandemia de COVID-19 (sí/no) así como las variables sexo, nivel educacional, tiempo de estadía en Chile, tipo de previsión de salud, ansiedad o depresión debido a COVID-19, cumplimiento de confinamiento y evaluación de calidad de la información sobre COVID-19 que se ha recibido de autoridades y equipos de salud. RESULTADOS: 65% de los participantes venezolanos informaron no sentirse preparados para la pandemia. En comparación con los migrantes venezolanos que se sienten preparados para enfrentar la pandemia de COVID-19, los migrantes venezolanos que reportaron no sentirse preparados eran en mayor proporción mujeres, con nivel de educación secundaria, habían llegado a Chile en el último año, no tienen trabajo pero quieren trabajar, y pertenecer a la prestación sanitaria pública. DISCUSIÓN: Recibir información de buena calidad sobre la pandemia y la salud mental son factores importantes asociados con sentirse preparado para enfrentar COVID-19 en migrantes venezolanos en Chile, lo cual sugiere que se necesita más atención en la salud física y mental de los migrantes venezolanos en Chile y en la región.