Health system responses to health needs of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland
Sangsan, Woranuch (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025061623131
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025061623131
Tiivistelmä
Undocumented migrants (those residing in a country without legal status or valid permits) are a vulnerable population with limited access to healthcare services, contributing to poor health outcomes and raising complex public health, ethical, and policy-related concerns. Within this population, pregnant undocumented women are particularly vulnerable due to significant barriers to accessing maternal care, which increases their risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.
In Finland, a legislative reform in 2023 expanded access to non-urgent healthcare for undocumented migrants, including pregnant women. However, this policy is currently under governmental review, with a proposal to revoke such access as a measure to support the sustainability of state finances. This proposed policy shift has prompted concern within the healthcare community, regarding its potential impact on healthcare delivery and outcomes for pregnant undocumented migrants. This emphasizes the need for evidence-based evaluation of healthcare accessibility and equity for pregnant undocumented migrants.
This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ experiences on taking care of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland. The objectives of this study are to 1) examine key challenges faced by healthcare professionals in caring for pregnant undocumented migrants, 2) identify the health system’s barriers and facilitators in addressing health needs of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland, and 3) develop the potential strategies and ways forward to improve the quality of care.
The use of qualitative research methodology in the study provided a valuable insight into the perspective and experiences of healthcare professionals regarding the challenges and responses in addressing the health needs of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland. Participants were healthcare professionals who have experienced working on pregnant undocumented migrants at maternity and child health center in Finland. The total of four semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed. Data were analyzed using inductive approach for section 1 (challenges that healthcare professionals experienced) and 3 (potential strategies and ways forward), and deductive approach for section 2 (health systems’ response) to identify key themes with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Six Building Blocks of Health Systems Framework.
The study found that ‘lack of trust’ and ‘lack of knowledge’ are major challenges for healthcare professionals caring for pregnant undocumented migrants. Despite Finland’s strong healthcare system and professional commitment, this group continues to face systemic, legal, cultural, and financial barriers to equitable care. These obstacles often hinder timely access to essential services and constrain healthcare providers' ability to deliver inclusive care. Addressing these issues requires policy reform, cross-sector collaboration, professional training, and systemic changes to uphold ethical and human rights standards and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In Finland, a legislative reform in 2023 expanded access to non-urgent healthcare for undocumented migrants, including pregnant women. However, this policy is currently under governmental review, with a proposal to revoke such access as a measure to support the sustainability of state finances. This proposed policy shift has prompted concern within the healthcare community, regarding its potential impact on healthcare delivery and outcomes for pregnant undocumented migrants. This emphasizes the need for evidence-based evaluation of healthcare accessibility and equity for pregnant undocumented migrants.
This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ experiences on taking care of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland. The objectives of this study are to 1) examine key challenges faced by healthcare professionals in caring for pregnant undocumented migrants, 2) identify the health system’s barriers and facilitators in addressing health needs of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland, and 3) develop the potential strategies and ways forward to improve the quality of care.
The use of qualitative research methodology in the study provided a valuable insight into the perspective and experiences of healthcare professionals regarding the challenges and responses in addressing the health needs of pregnant undocumented migrants in Finland. Participants were healthcare professionals who have experienced working on pregnant undocumented migrants at maternity and child health center in Finland. The total of four semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed. Data were analyzed using inductive approach for section 1 (challenges that healthcare professionals experienced) and 3 (potential strategies and ways forward), and deductive approach for section 2 (health systems’ response) to identify key themes with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Six Building Blocks of Health Systems Framework.
The study found that ‘lack of trust’ and ‘lack of knowledge’ are major challenges for healthcare professionals caring for pregnant undocumented migrants. Despite Finland’s strong healthcare system and professional commitment, this group continues to face systemic, legal, cultural, and financial barriers to equitable care. These obstacles often hinder timely access to essential services and constrain healthcare providers' ability to deliver inclusive care. Addressing these issues requires policy reform, cross-sector collaboration, professional training, and systemic changes to uphold ethical and human rights standards and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).