"Maybe it's an Indo thing": Transnational health experiences of Indonesian women living in Australia

Transnational Healthcare Practices Among Migrants: A Concept Analysis

AIMS

To present a conceptual definition of transnational healthcare in the context of migrant older adults.

DESIGN

This article follows the Walker and Avant concept analysis framework to conduct an in-depth analysis of transnational healthcare.

METHODS

Databases were searched for scholarly articles using keywords associated with transnational healthcare. The DistillerSR software was employed to screen articles for inclusion in the concept analysis. Titles and abstracts of 390 articles were screened with 50 identified for full-text screening. Thirty-seven articles were included to inform the concept analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Social Science Citation Index (Clarivate), PsycInfo and CINAHL databases. Search dates: March-May 2024.

RESULTS

Defining attributes of the concept include cultural comfort and alignment, perceived quality and trust, integration barriers and experiences of discrimination, use of digital platforms and informal networks, challenges navigating host country health systems. Cases, antecedents, consequences, empirical referents and cultural considerations were used to shape a conceptual definition of transnational healthcare.

CONCLUSION

Transnational healthcare is defined as a practice involving those living outside of their country of origin seeking healthcare from that country of origin through physical or other means.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

This conceptual definition highlights the importance of understanding healthcare access, quality and continuity of care across national borders.

IMPACT

This study addresses gaps in available literature regarding transnational healthcare and its impacts on treatment outcomes, healthcare satisfaction and continuity of care in migrant communities.

REPORTING METHOD

This article adheres to the PRISMA (2020) reporting guidelines for systematic reviews.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Transnational Health and Self-care Experiences of Japanese Women who have taken Oral Contraceptives in South Korea, including Over-the-counter Access: Insights from Semi-structured Interviews

In an increasingly globalized world, the accessibility of healthcare and medication has expanded beyond local healthcare systems and national borders. This study aims to investigate the transnational health and self-care experiences of 11 Japanese women who have resided in South Korea for a minimum of six months and have utilized oral contraceptives, including those that were acquired over-the-counter (OTC). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by utilizing the NVivo software. The analysis yielded three significant thematic categories, namely (1) experiences and perceptions of obtaining and utilizing contraceptive pills, including OTC access; (2) individual and social perceptions of pills and their accessibility in Japan, insights from actual users; and (3) enhancing pill accessibility, transnational health and self-care experiences and perspectives. Participants acknowledged that oral contraceptives are a global product and experienced communication challenges with healthcare providers as a result of differing understandings of these medications. Additionally, this study identified transnational strategies, such as purchasing an adequate supply of pills just before departure and seeking pills from local families or acquaintances. This study not only highlights the implications of clinical care for transnational patients but also underscores their critical global perspectives on access to oral contraceptives. Furthermore, it proposes two models for improving accessibility within the Japanese healthcare system, even in prescription-only contexts, by introducing OTC options.

'You are making it sound like you are talking to a child': exploring community sentiment on developing and disseminating tailored sexual health education resources for migrants

Health communication is a critical component of public health, which includes health education resources. Resource effectiveness is improved where health literacy demands, including the cultural appropriateness of resources, match the intended audience. International guidelines support the tailoring of resources for migrants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLD). Five focus groups (n = 18) and interviews (n = 9) with people from CaLD migrant backgrounds explored community perspectives on sexual health resources developed by a state department of health, specifically clarity, comprehensiveness, cultural appropriateness and strategies for dissemination. We identified three major thematic areas relating to simplicity, cultural norms and beliefs and dissemination. Participants recommended resource delivery in different formats as part of a broader intervention. Generally, sexual health information was deemed appropriate and easily understood. However, the resources used simplified language that participants reported was vague and inaccurate at times, potentially contributing to misinformation and reinforcing stigma relating both to the status of being a migrant and sexual health. Findings suggest the need for more nuanced health resource development beyond translation and language simplification. Resources developed in different formats, including different health literacy demands, using approaches that engage the target group in design and dissemination and contextualized within a comprehensive health promotion project, are likely to be more effective.

COVID-19 brought the water struggles in Ghana into our homes in Canada: Collective emotions and WASH struggles in distant locations during health emergencies

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened and made visible the embodied consequences of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) inequalities and the relationalities of health in place. This paper combines insights from relational geographies and embodied epidemiology to explore psychosocial concerns among Ghanaian migrants in Canada due to their multiple and simultaneous roles in the WASH space in Ghana, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored this using narratives from in-depth interviews with 27 participants (16 women and 11 men) residing in Ontario, Canada. The case of Ghana offers insight into how social ties with home communities could provide a safety net during emergencies but could also affect the psychosocial wellbeing of migrants. Results revealed four interrelated psychosocial stressors, including social stressors, financial stressors, stressors related to perceived inequality and stressors related to the fear of infection during WASH access. The paper underscores the urgent need for research to move beyond local health implications of WASH inequalities and begin to prioritize how these social inequalities are embodied at distant locations.