Page 22 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 22
men Medica
In Lieu of a Conclusion
The chapter is based on the research project Cross-border Network for Immi-
grant Women: Social Integration, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Program
INTERREG V A Italy–Slovenia 2014–2020, the project leader of which in Slove-
nia is Dr Mirko Prosen from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Based on the focus
group work within the said project, we can say that the Slovenian health sys-
tem encounters several problems with the reception of migrants, especially
female ones.
This is largely due to at least two issues:
– the absence of any course (education) on how to treat migrants or
members of foreign cultures – health professionals are left to them-
selves; and
– poor language knowledge – by both migrants who, due to Slovenian
legislation, can only learn the language without cost after having been
resident in Slovenia for 2 years, as well as health professionals who have
no possibility of taking cost-free courses in other languages.
The fact there are no communication channels between medical profes-
sionals and migrants is a problem that stems from prejudices which, in our
opinion, are due to sensational media reporting of the migrant crisis (e.g.
making a mess on the train, destroying food and destroying seats on the
train, bus etc.). These statements were obtained in a focus group interview,
Faculty of Health Sciences in March 2018.
Any stereotyping indulged in by health professionals will not contribute
to successful integration and social cohesion, on the contrary. As long as a
widespread stereotypical conception of immigrants is held among the pub-
lic, as long as the state’s attitude to immigrant workers and their political,
religious and cultural expectations allow them to be scorned by their imme-
diate community or at work, and to be marginalised by society at large, it is
hard to talk of the implementation of integration into wider society.
Identity changes, belonging and non-belonging are actually hallmarks of
a challenge brought by the presence of different cultures in society, includ-
ing the contributions these groups make and by maintaining contact with
their home culture. The key identifications in society occur at the local, micro
level, in various forms of everyday contact with the inhabitants of a specific
region. If neither (immigrant and native populations, migrant minorities and
the majority population) is prepared to play a role, then even the best models
and concepts of integration, all the good measures and good intentions, will
20
In Lieu of a Conclusion
The chapter is based on the research project Cross-border Network for Immi-
grant Women: Social Integration, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Program
INTERREG V A Italy–Slovenia 2014–2020, the project leader of which in Slove-
nia is Dr Mirko Prosen from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Based on the focus
group work within the said project, we can say that the Slovenian health sys-
tem encounters several problems with the reception of migrants, especially
female ones.
This is largely due to at least two issues:
– the absence of any course (education) on how to treat migrants or
members of foreign cultures – health professionals are left to them-
selves; and
– poor language knowledge – by both migrants who, due to Slovenian
legislation, can only learn the language without cost after having been
resident in Slovenia for 2 years, as well as health professionals who have
no possibility of taking cost-free courses in other languages.
The fact there are no communication channels between medical profes-
sionals and migrants is a problem that stems from prejudices which, in our
opinion, are due to sensational media reporting of the migrant crisis (e.g.
making a mess on the train, destroying food and destroying seats on the
train, bus etc.). These statements were obtained in a focus group interview,
Faculty of Health Sciences in March 2018.
Any stereotyping indulged in by health professionals will not contribute
to successful integration and social cohesion, on the contrary. As long as a
widespread stereotypical conception of immigrants is held among the pub-
lic, as long as the state’s attitude to immigrant workers and their political,
religious and cultural expectations allow them to be scorned by their imme-
diate community or at work, and to be marginalised by society at large, it is
hard to talk of the implementation of integration into wider society.
Identity changes, belonging and non-belonging are actually hallmarks of
a challenge brought by the presence of different cultures in society, includ-
ing the contributions these groups make and by maintaining contact with
their home culture. The key identifications in society occur at the local, micro
level, in various forms of everyday contact with the inhabitants of a specific
region. If neither (immigrant and native populations, migrant minorities and
the majority population) is prepared to play a role, then even the best models
and concepts of integration, all the good measures and good intentions, will
20
