Journal of Public Health (Germany)
Volume 23, Issue 4, 2015, Pages 213-221

Labor migrants in St Petersburg: Disease awareness, behavioral risks and counseling by health professionals in building up prevention against TB, HIVand associated infections (Article)

Sergeyev B.* , Kazanets I. , Ivanova L. , Zhuravleva I. , Isaeva N. , Vasankari T. , Nyberg A. , Vauhkonnen M.
  • a Migration Health Department, IOM, Bureau in Moscow, Office in Russia, House 12, 2nd Zvenigorodskaya Str., Moscow, Russian Federation
  • b Migration Health Department, IOM, Bureau in Moscow, Office in Russia, House 12, 2nd Zvenigorodskaya Str., Moscow, Russian Federation
  • c Institute of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 24/35 Krzhizhanovski Str., Moscow, Russian Federation
  • d Department of Social Aspects of Health, Institute of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 24/35 Krzhizhanovski Str., Moscow, Russian Federation
  • e Institute of Phtysiopulmonology, 2/4 Ligovskii Pr., St Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • f Finnish Lung Health Association (FILHA), Sibeliuksenkatu 11 A 1, Helsinki, 00250, Finland
  • g Finnish Lung Health Association (FILHA), Sibeliuksenkatu 11 A 1, Helsinki, 00250, Finland
  • h Finnish Lung Health Association (FILHA), Sibeliuksenkatu 11 A 1, Helsinki, 00250, Finland

Abstract

Aim The existing studies of disease awareness among labor migrants often do not extend to tuberculosis and hepatitis, as there is limited research on factors promoting contacts with medical professionals who can serve as important sources of disease prevention information. When designing health interventions, planners need to take these factors into account, especially given that the proportion of migrant population can impact on general health situation in certain areas. Subject and methods Survey among labor migrants in St Petersburg (n=150) was administered by a team of Russian and Finnish researchers. It included assessments of migrants’ awareness of HIV, hepatitis, TB and STIs; risk behavior, access to medical counseling and ranking of various sources as suppliers of health information. Results The results revealed considerable gender gap, with women being better informed about transmission routes and prevention methods against communicable diseases. The gap extends to information sources, yet both genders refer to medical professionals as an important source of health information. Women are also more likely to contact medical offices; availability of health insurance has limited impact in this respect. Conclusion Given their role as suppliers of health information, medical professionals should be encouraged to share advice withmigrants. The respective shift in funding priorities to support medical professionals is advisable. Furthermore, official policies to promote voluntary health insurance, while being a positive initiative, have limited value in terms of prevention of communicable diseases as availability of insurance does not promote contacts between migrants and medical professionals. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015.

Author Keywords

Risk behavior Disease prevention Migrants tuberculosis

Index Keywords

sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection health insurance human health service sexually transmitted disease patient counseling migrant worker male female tuberculosis medical information hepatitis Article high risk behavior bivariate analysis infection prevention communicable disease major clinical study awareness adult disease association health practitioner
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943229445&doi=10.1007%2fs10389-015-0669-4&partnerID=40&md5=f38737f555e4770fddd63e4a4b5b4a01
DOI: 10.1007/s10389-015-0669-4
ISSN: 09431853
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English