Migrants’ digital competences and health information in Finland

TODAY, I focus on migrants’ digital competences and health information in Finland, a move away from the topic of personalities or groups and their accomplishments within the Ghanaian community in Finland that I have been writing on.

Worldwide, one problem faced by healthcare delivery services as well as peoples and especially patients is the provision of health information, and how patients are able to access such information.

Of late, I have been thinking about the situation of migrants or minorities in the context of their digital competences and access to health information. One can imagine the potential challenges migrants may face in accessing information, whether one looks at it as a drawback of the healthcare delivery services or the migrants’ own lack of skill.

Good Finnish healthcare services

Finland has a very good healthcare delivery system and social services accessible to all residents in the country. Information about healthcare delivery services is provided for every citizen.

Many migrants, including those in the Ghanaian community, are aware of these opportunities and are expected to take advantage of such chances. But research indicates that migrants or people with a culturally and linguistically diverse background face challenges in accessing health information.

Finnish government and health authorities have been promoting digitalisation of personal health records and aspects of healthcare services, although research has shown that some older migrants, for example, face barriers such as not having an e-ID in order to access information digitally.

Generally, patients and others need information about health, prognosis and treatment or care in order to ensure prevention or therapy for diseases, especially the chronic or life-threatening ones.

According to the World Health Organisation, chronic diseases and life-threatening illnesses are increasing worldwide in terms of morbidity and mortality. In most advanced countries such as Finland, healthcare delivery services have gone highly digital in order to ensure faster and undoubtedly an effective way of rendering health care.

Almost everywhere, research and other reports have shown that there are barriers or challenges faced by migrants in the digital systems of the countries they live in. For example, according to reports in some countries in Europe, including Finland, during the COVID-19 period, some of the barriers to public health messaging were the potentially lower levels of proficiency of migrants in the host country’s (majority) language.

Migrants’ health and wellbeing are affected by many factors, including cultural ideas of health, illnesses, and the prevention, treatment and symptoms of illnesses (see www.thl.fi). It is accepted that factors to improve health and wellbeing must be supported.

Digitalisation and access to health information

I think this is the time for Ghanaian migrants in Finland to acquire digital skills or competences in order to have an optimal benefit of the healthcare services and enhance their integration into the Finnish society.

As I have mentioned already, research and other reports have also shown that migrants or minorities face challenges accessing information due to language and other barriers. For example, there are potentially lower levels of awareness, perceptions of risk, and misconceptions not addressed in public health guidance and the national response.

Knowledge about digital competence and accessing health information among minorities such as Ghanaian/African migrants should be taken seriously, especially by the migrants themselves.

Enhancing Integration

Digital competence will thus undoubtedly be a good way to enhance integration. According to the Finnish health department, health and wellbeing are an important part of the integration process.

• Digital skills is a necessity

Migrant associations may help the health authorities and formally create awareness among their members and other migrants, usually in collaboration with some Finnish institutions, and are thus an important tool for several migrants to be positively active and to get their interest and concerns heard.

As I wrote previously, the role of migrant associations acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision-making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland.

The social media outlets have become an important means for disseminating information and it could be a key medium through which migrant groups or associations and other institutions could educate people.

Thank you

By Perpetual Crentsil

perpetualcrentsil@yahoo.com

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