Lowering COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among immigrants in Norway: Opinions and suggestions by immigrants

Even though COVID-19 vaccine has been proved effective, vaccine uptake and coverage has been and still is a great concern across different immigrant groups. Vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to accept the vaccine among immigrants across the globe-including Norway-despite higher rates of hospitalizations and deaths. This study aimed to explore the opinions and suggestions of immigrants on how to lower the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among immigrants in Norway. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 88 persons with different immigrant background. Data was analyzed using framework analysis, utilizing "3Cs model of vaccine hesitancy" as a theoretical framework. The analysis yielded five main themes related to factors that may lower the vaccine hesitancy among immigrants in Norway: (1) Effective cultural communication, (2) Vaccine advocacy through community engagement, (3) Motivating factors, (4) Collaborative efforts via government and healthcare, and (5) Incentives for vaccination. This study enhanced our understanding of factors that according to immigrants themselves may lower the vaccine hesitancy. The insights obtained in this study can contribute to a better understanding of the current status of vaccine uptake among immigrants and can further give directions on how to improve vaccine uptake in these groups in Norway.

Health among immigrants in Norway, results from the Living Condition Survey among immigrants 2016

Introduction

To manage immigrants` health needs is an important challenge for the society. This report gives knowledge about the status of immigrant health in Norway, which can be used in planning of health services.

Methods

Statistics Norway carried out a Living Condition Survey among immigrants in 2016. We report the prevalence of health outcomes (self-reported health, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, back- and neck problems, impaired functioning, mental health problems, problems with sleeping, overweight) and lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, physical activity) by country of origin and assess associations between health and sociodemographic (age, education, income) and migration related (age at immigration, duration of residence, Norwegian proficiency) variables, as well as discrimination and employment. Immigrants from twelve countries were interviewed. The questionnaire was translated into the main languages in the twelve countries and English. In this report, 4399 participants aged 16-66 years were included.

Results

There were large variations in health according to country of origin and gender. Immigrants experienced a deterioration in health at younger age than non-immigrants did. The educational gradient in health was less pronounced among immigrants than among others. Perceived discrimination was related to mental health problems. Some immigrant groups had a high proportion of smokers. In most groups a considerable proportion was drinking alcohol and a low proportion were physically active.

Conclusions

Future research should take into account differences in health according to country of origin and gender. The importance of physical and social circumstances for immigrant health emphasizes the need for structural population-based initiatives to promote health.

Key messages

Immigrant health varies by country of origin and gender. Physical and social environment is important for immigrant health.

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes in patients with African or Asian background

BACKGROUND

Population groups of different ancestry appear to have varying prevalence of diabetes, different risks of developing cardiovascular disease and different responses to certain drugs that are used for these conditions. We wished to review the literature in this field.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We have performed searches in several databases for systematic review articles published from the year 2000 onwards, and supplemented these with articles from reference lists, our own literature archives and a pyramid search in the Norwegian Electronic Health Library database. Altogether 37 articles were included.

RESULTS

With regard to diagnosed diabetes, the prevalence of coronary heart disease and stroke varies among groups of South Asian, East Asian, African and European ancestry. In patients of South Asian ancestry, the risk of coronary heart disease appears to be twice that of Europeans, and the disease occurs 5–10 years earlier. The prevalence of stroke is especially high in persons of African ancestry. Risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension are distributed differently among these groups. The therapeutic response to drugs such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and various statins differs; for example, statin doses in Asians may often be halved in relation to those used for Caucasians, and ACE inhibitors are not recommended as monotherapy for hypertension in persons of African ancestry. These differences are partly attributable to variations in genetic disposition.

INTERPRETATION

The findings are clinically significant – better insight in this field enables optimal tailoring of treatment for each patient, with more rapid achievement of goals and reduced risk of adverse effects. The recommendations given in this article are consistent with and complement the Directorate of Health’s revised guidelines for the treatment of diabetes.

Autoradiographic demonstration of glutamate structures after stereotaxic injection of kainic acid in rat hippocampus

Autoradiography of high affinity uptake of L-glutamate in rat hippocampus after kainic acid lesion of CA3 and CA4 pyramidal cells has been used to identify the neurotransmitter of their ipsilateral connections. Glutamate or aspartate has tentatively been identified as the neurotransmitter of the projection from CA3 pyramidal cells to strata radiatum and oriens of CA1 and the projection from CA4 pyramidal cells to the inner parts of the molecular layer of area dentata.