Qualitative Health Research
Volume 28, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 610-623

How Can We Keep Immigrant Travelers Healthy? Health Challenges Experienced by Canadian South Asian Travelers Visiting Friends and Relatives (Article)

Savage R.D.* , Rosella L.C. , Crowcroft N.S. , Arneja J. , de Villa E. , Horn M. , Khan K. , Varia M.
  • a University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • b University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • c University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • d University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Toronto Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • f Peel Public Health, Mississauga, ON, Canada
  • g University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • h Peel Public Health, Mississauga, ON, Canada

Abstract

Immigrant travelers who visit friends and relatives (VFR travelers) experience substantially higher rates of travel-related infections than other travelers, in part due to low uptake of pretravel health advice. While barriers to accessing advice have been identified, better characterization is needed to inform targeted interventions. We sought to understand how South Asian VFR travelers perceived and responded to travel-related health risks by conducting group interviews with 32 adult travelers from an ethnoculturally diverse Canadian region. Travelers positioned themselves as knowledgeable of key health risks, despite not seeking pretravel health advice. Their responses to risks were pragmatic and rooted in experience, but often constrained by competing concerns, including rushed travel, familial obligations, cost, and a desire to preserve authentic experiences. Moving beyond risk awareness to reinforcing the value of medical advice and intervention, in a manner that is sensitive to these unique concerns, is needed when delivering tailored health promotion messages to VFR travelers. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.

Author Keywords

Immigrant travel communicable disease control health attitudes Peel region focus groups visiting friends and relatives South Asian Canada qualitative

Index Keywords

information processing Pakistan India human risk assessment middle aged travel Aged ethnology procedures interview Young Adult Humans migrant Adolescent Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female communicable disease control Ontario adult attitude to health Focus Groups
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041923594&doi=10.1177%2f1049732317746381&partnerID=40&md5=21c6cebe71d3d113d62316e81c6a9e14
DOI: 10.1177/1049732317746381
ISSN: 10497323
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English