International Migrants Day, December 18, 2019
International Migrants Day is an opportunity to highlight that access to healthcare and preventive health measures for migrants are critical public health issues. For several years now, Santé publique France has been implementing projects targeting these populations and providing resources for healthcare professionals.
Migrant Health: Insights into Their Health Status
In 2019, Santé publique France published a special issue of the weekly epidemiological bulletin titled “Migrant Populations: Experienced Violence and Access to Care.”
The health of migrants and exiles is a concern for stakeholders in our healthcare system. The stakes are high, first and foremost for the individuals concerned: the health impact of the violence they have experienced and the conditions of their exile is dramatic and now transgenerational.
This special issue presents a wealth of research that opens up important avenues for action. Three articles document the complexity of epidemiological analysis and the importance of a precise clinical approach. From an epidemiological and population-based perspective, the implementation of validated descriptive and analytical tools is essential for understanding the determinants of health—including violence—linked to different life trajectories and experiences of exile. This improved understanding forms the basis for enhancing all public health interventions, ranging from mental health to infectious diseases and sexual health. More generally, it also concerns the attitude of healthcare professionals toward the issue of refusal of care, as well as the willingness and needs of professionals who are often at a loss when faced with the complexity of these situations. The development of qualified interpretation services and the accessibility of common legal rights mechanisms are major challenges.
Contents of this issue:
Violence Experienced and Health Status: Results and Public Health Lessons from Nursing Assessments Conducted in Île-de-France Among Migrant Populations (October 2015–July 2018)
Impact of gender-based violence on the health of exiles
Migration pathways, reported violence, and perceived health among migrant women staying in hotels in Île-de-France. Dsafhir survey
Denials of care due to CMU or AME reported by women with families, without housing, and staying in the Île-de-France region
Catch-up vaccination practices among physicians practicing in France for migrants arriving on French territory
Bilingual health booklets in 15 languages
Produced in partnership with the Committee for the Health of Exiles (Comede) and several partner organizations, these booklets are intended for migrants in precarious situations. The health booklets provide information on health, rights, and administrative procedures in France. Their bilingual format facilitates communication with doctors, social workers, or other professionals.
The “Bilingual Health Booklets” were expanded and updated in 2018 and are available in 15 languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Creole (Haitian), Dari, English, Georgian, Hindi, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Tamil, and Turkish. They can be downloaded and ordered by professionals and organizations that work with migrants.
A communication initiative for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa
For several years, Santé publique France has been implementing communication initiatives targeting populations from French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa living in France.
The "Health Topic of the Week" on Africa Radio addresses a different prevention topic each week and serves as a weekly program for listeners of the most influential African media outlet in France. Every Thursday morning from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., the health program brings together many listeners to discuss various topics such as vaccination, tuberculosis, HIV, nutrition, skin lightening, contraception, and many others.
“L’invité Santé” is the new feature for 2019. To complement the program, a social media engagement initiative—particularly on Facebook—was launched in October. Short videos (1:30 to 2 minutes) are posted every Tuesday around 5:00 PM as a regular feature. They feature a guest from the nonprofit sector, the medical field, or experts from Santé publique France, and focus on a preventive health initiative. For example, physical activity, No Smoking Month, screening, nutrition, Agir pour bébé, and skin depigmentation have already been covered.
