Information on, and access to, healthcare services among refugees from Ukraine arriving in Norway

BACKGROUND: The full-scale invasion in Ukraine has led to a sharp increase in the number of refugees coming to Norway, and a rapid upscaling of the asylum system, including temporary solutions, which may have led to poorer information and access to services. This study assesses received information about, and access to, health services in a sample of adult Ukrainian refugees in Norway. METHODS: Data were collected via a digital questionnaire (UKR-R survey, n = 731) in a cross-sectional study design between 28.10.22-31.01.23, via multiple physical contact points, including asylum reception centres, municipalities, non-profit organisations, as well as Facebook groups for refugees in Norway. Results for outcome measures were weighted by age and sex against all Ukrainian refugees registered with collective protection in Norway. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 731) were 83% female, most aged 30-39 years (36%) and 40-49 years (29%), 69% with higher education. Among those with long-term illnesses, health problems or disabilities, 48% reported usually needing health services 2-4 times per year, and 22% answered ‘5 or more'. Thirty-nine percent of all respondents had received information about the health services in Norway in a way that they could understand, while 49% answered ‘To some extent'. Most knew how to contact a doctor or other health professional if they needed help, either fully (49%) or to some extent (43%). Eighty-six percent had needed health care in Norway. Of these, 32% reported having received the health care they felt they needed, and 42% answered ‘To some extent'. More recent arrivals were less likely to report having received adequate information, to know how to contact health services, and that they had received the health care they felt they had needed. CONCLUSIONS: There are indications of unmet or only partially met healthcare and information needs, especially among more recently arrived persons, representing potential for improvement. KEY MESSAGES: • Received information about, and access to health services, are acceptable, but with room for improvement, especially among those newly arrived. • A large majority of the refugees reported need for health care in Norway. One out of four have not received the health care they felt they needed.