Challenged assumptions and invisible effects: an explorative case study of a health education intervention addressing immigrants

TY - JOUR

T1 - Challenged assumptions and invisible effects

T2 - an explorative case study of a health education intervention addressing immigrants

AU - Wimmelmann, Camilla Lawaetz

AU - Vitus, Kathrine

AU - Jervelund, Signe Smith

PY - 2017/12/5

Y1 - 2017/12/5

N2 - Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine any unanticipated effects of an educational intervention among newly arrived adult immigrants attending a language school in Denmark. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative case study was conducted including interviews with nine informants, observations of two complete intervention courses and an analysis of the official intervention documents. Findings - This case study exemplifies how the basic normative assumptions behind an immigrant-oriented intervention and the intrinsic power relations therein may be challenged and negotiated by the participants. In particular, the assumed (power) relations inherent in immigrant-oriented educational health interventions, in which immigrants are in a novice position, are challenged, as the immigrants are experienced adults (and parents) in regard to healthcare. The paper proposes that such unexpected conditions for the implementation - different from the assumed conditions - not only challenge the implementation of the intervention but also potentially produce unanticipated yet valuable effects. Research limitations/implications - Newly arrived immigrants represent a hugely diverse and heterogeneous group of people with differing values and belief systems regarding health and healthcare. A more detailed study is necessary to fully understand their health seeking behaviours in the Danish context. Originality/value - Offering newly arrived immigrants a course on health and the healthcare system as part of the mandatory language courses is a new and underexplored means of providing and improving newly arrived immigrants knowledge and use of the Danish healthcare system.

AB - Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine any unanticipated effects of an educational intervention among newly arrived adult immigrants attending a language school in Denmark. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative case study was conducted including interviews with nine informants, observations of two complete intervention courses and an analysis of the official intervention documents. Findings - This case study exemplifies how the basic normative assumptions behind an immigrant-oriented intervention and the intrinsic power relations therein may be challenged and negotiated by the participants. In particular, the assumed (power) relations inherent in immigrant-oriented educational health interventions, in which immigrants are in a novice position, are challenged, as the immigrants are experienced adults (and parents) in regard to healthcare. The paper proposes that such unexpected conditions for the implementation - different from the assumed conditions - not only challenge the implementation of the intervention but also potentially produce unanticipated yet valuable effects. Research limitations/implications - Newly arrived immigrants represent a hugely diverse and heterogeneous group of people with differing values and belief systems regarding health and healthcare. A more detailed study is necessary to fully understand their health seeking behaviours in the Danish context. Originality/value - Offering newly arrived immigrants a course on health and the healthcare system as part of the mandatory language courses is a new and underexplored means of providing and improving newly arrived immigrants knowledge and use of the Danish healthcare system.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Immigrants

KW - Intervention

KW - Education

KW - Healthcare use

KW - Unanticipated effects

U2 - 10.1108/IJMHSC-03-2016-0014

DO - 10.1108/IJMHSC-03-2016-0014

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1747-9894

VL - 13

SP - 391

EP - 402

JO - International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

JF - International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

IS - 4

ER -