Room to move as room to improve? – Health-related integration interventions in civil society

• Migrant groups belong to one of the most vulnerable sections of society, where issues of health inequalities and integration are at stake. Civil society is often highlighted as being an important actor in the integration of newly-arrived citizens and has also been encouraged to help migrants improve their health. The aim of the study was to explore what aspects of general and health-related acculturation and health work are expressed in research into health-related integration-interventions for migrant groups provided by civil society agents. An integrative review has been conducted. By searching databases, journal websites and reference lists, ten articles could be identified. The data has been analyzed using a concept of acculturation, different approaches to health work and the health discourse as a theoretical framework. Two different accumulations of studies have been identified: an assimilation-integration spectrum and an integration-separation spectrum. The interventions in the assimilation-integration spectrum tend to promote assimilation to the host culture and to a Western view of health. Most of these interventions are driven by representatives of the host culture. The interventions in the integration-separation spectrum are characterized by a greater openness concerning home-cultural understandings of health, alongside to an appreciation of home culture in general. These interventions are mostly migrant-driven. The acculturation strategies suggested by migrant-driven organizations tend to be orientated towards integration, whereas the strategies of native-driven organizations are more orientated towards assimilation. Thus, an awareness of basic ideas and methods in health intervention work is regarded as being crucial for civil society organizations.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)