RESUMO
MyHealth European project (2017-2020) was committed to elaborate on models to engage vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMR) in their health through community involvement. Low healthcare access and poor quality of healthcare services for VMR is a common reality in many European countries. The purpose of the present study, as part of MyHealth project, was the development of an agenda for actions and consequent recommendations to tackle the issue. A qualitative research design was applied at four study sites in Barcelona, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Brno, Czech Republic and Athens, Greece. The Metaplan® group discussions allowed the collection, organization and process of ideas and opinions elaborated in the collaborative groups. In total, 14 sessions took place: 4 with health and social professionals (n = 41) and 10 with VMR (n = 77). A participatory thematic analysis was performed at every session and overall for all sessions a thematic analysis synthesized the findings. The suggested actions were divided into two levels of recommendations: (i) local authorities at destination country-related, such as the investment in health professionals' cultural competences, and (ii) VMR-related, such as adaptation of help-seeking behavior patterns. Special attention was proposed to women survivors of violence and homeless minors. The study concluded to an agenda for action in Europe. We advocate for a public health paradigm shift where, while holding a bottom-up approach, VMR as well as professionals working with them are actively and meaningfully engaged in the decision-making process of access-enhancing and health promotion strategies in a given socio-cultural context.
Low healthcare access and poor quality of healthcare services for vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMR) is a common reality in many European countries. As part of MyHealth project (20172020), a qualitative methodology was used to engage VMR and professionals in the decision-making of proposed actions and corresponding recommendations to address the issue.
