Asylum Seekers Health and Wellbeing Survey (TERTTU-Survey)
Information on the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers is limited
The aim of the TERTTU-Survey was to produce representative population-based survey data on the health, wellbeing and service needs of newly-arrived asylum seekers. This information could then bee used in policy-making as well as for development of the health services for asylum seekers.
Implementation of the TERTTU-Survey
The survey was carried out during 2018. All newly-arrived asylum seekers were invited to participate in the survey, with exception for those in detention units. The aim of the survey was to collect data on 1,000 asylum seekers, including adults and children. The sample was nationally representative. The survey was mainly concentrated in transit reception centres in Helsinki, Turku, Oulu and Joutseno, which are the first place of residence for newly-arrived asylum seekers.
Data collection consisted of a structured face-to-face interview and a health examination. The interview for adults consisted of questions on living conditions, health, physical and social functional capacity, quality of life, experiences of traumatic and violent events, life-style habits and service use. The health examination consisted of standardised measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, pulse and a brief dental examination. The survey content for children was adapted from the adults' survey. The guardian answered the interview questions concerning children aged 12 years or younger and the child participated in the health examination only. Children aged 13 to 17 years participated in the survey personally.
The interview and the health examination were carried out by trained, multilingual personnel. Therefore, a large number of interviews could be carried out directly in the mother tongue of the participant. The rest of the interviews and health examinations were carried out using a professional interpreter (telephone interpretation). Survey materials were available in Finnish, English, Arabic, Persian, Kurdish (Sorani), Russian and Somali. Participants provided informed consent. The health examination results were provided for the participants orally and in written form. Participation in the survey did not replace the initial health assessment that conducted by reception centres.
Participation in the survey is strictly confidential
All the personal data collected during the TERTTU Survey was managed following the Personal Data Act and data management regulations stipulated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The survey personnel are bound by a confidentiality clause. Participants' personal information was not forwarded to the personnel of reception centres or anyone else. In case an evident need for healthcare or service needs arised through the course of the interview or health examination, participants were recommended to seek an appointment with the reception centre nurse.
Upon a separate consent, interview and health examination data could be supplemented with data from the reception centre's electronic health record system. Also upon a separate consent, survey data of participants who were eventually granted a residence permit in Finland could be supplemented with register-based data used for monitoring the health and wellbeing of the general Finnish population. The survey was approved by the Coordinating Ethics Committee of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District.
The TERTTU Survey was carried out as a part of the national-level project: Developing the health examination protocol for asylum seekers in Finland. The survey was conducted by THL in collaboration with the Finnish Immigration Service and was funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (Amif).
