Abstract
Health risk communication plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of infectious disease outbreaks such as the current coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Yet, migrants are far too often forgotten in health risk communication responses. We investigate the challenges and efforts made by migrants in Denmark—in the initial months of the pandemic—to access information about COVID-19. We draw on 18 semi-structured interviews conducted in May and June 2020. All interviews are thematically coded and analyzed. Our analysis reveals that many of the migrants faced several challenges, including accessing information in a language understandable to them and navigating constant streams of official news flows issuing instructions about which actions to take. However, we also note that the participating migrants found numerous creative ways to address some of these challenges, often aided by digital tools, helping them access crucial health and risk information. This paper highlights that migrants constitute an underserved group in times of crises. They are vulnerable to getting left behind in pandemic communication responses. However, we also identify key protective factors, social resources, and agentic capabilities, which help them cope with health and risk information deficits. National governments need to take heed of these findings to inform future pandemic responses.
Highlights
Health and risk communication are critical to prevent the spread of the severe, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Health and risk communication are critical to prevent the spread of the severe, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), when it comes to the roll out and effectiveness of vaccines, yet it brings with it challenges and complexity [1]
We focus on the 28 codes that relate to health risk communication challenges and tactics
Throughout the interview narratives, it was clear that many of the migrants faced several challenges when it came to accessing the health risk communication coming from the Danish authorities
Summary
(SARS-CoV-2), when it comes to the roll out and effectiveness of vaccines, yet it brings with it challenges and complexity [1]. Studies have shown that some migrants have an increased risk of contracting infection with COVID-19 as well as suffering severe consequences from it [2,3,4], including psychosocially (e.g., depression, anxiety, or stigma) [5]. It is essential that information about COVID-19 is made accessible to all population groups, including migrants, giving them an equal chance to find effective ways to protect themselves from infection and engage with guidelines concerning preventive measures in their country of residence [6,7,8,9]. Migrants are often “left behind” in health risk communication efforts [6,10].
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