Approaching Children with Different Social and Cultural Backgrounds

In the beginning of the 1990’s migrations were viewed as a transient, temporary phenomenon. Today we are faced with thousands of refugees and modern migrations are no longer a temporary phenomenon. Therefore there is no reason to react with extraordinary measures. We are, however, facing unprepared professional services, lack of knowledge and experience and unwillingness to integrate the refugees into society

The article introduces the standard for ensuring equality in the healthcare of “vulnerable” groups with an emphasis on children. It presents the formation of the standard and the purpose of the Task Force for Migrant-Friendly and Culturally Competent Healthcare. It explains the decision for the preparation of this tool and the contents of the tool.

Requirements of the Standard for Ensuring Equality in the Healthcare of “Vulnerable” Groups are: Equality in Policies; Equal Access and Use of Health Services; Equal Quality of Healthcare; Equality in Cooperation; Promotion of Equality

Due to the current situation, health policy makers should in practice not see the presence of people from other cultural areas as temporary and extraordinary. They should rather find ways to respond to these changes with appropriate and deliberate measures which include:

• the assurance of equal access to healthcare services for refugees and migrants,
• the introduction of intercultural mediators and interpreters into health institutions,
• training of healthcare professionals to develop cultural competences.

Keywords: “vulnerable” groups, children, migrants, health care