- Autores: Havik PJ, Mapril J, Saraiva C
- Ano de Publicação: 2018
- Journal: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
- Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323811607_Mental_health_morbidity_and_mortality_of_African_immigrant_communities_in_Portugal_implications_for_primary_care
This chapter aims to relate different aspects of migrants’ self-perception with perspectives held by medical professionals relating to mental disorders and the health seeking behaviour among African migrant communities resident in Portugal. Placing the discussion on mental illness and migration in a public health framework, the chapter first provides an overview of the literature on these populations from Portuguese Speaking Countries in Africa (PALOP) in Portugal. Based upon data contained in the project survey and interviews, it then draws comparisons between two groups of African immigrants, i.e. Caboverdeans and Guinea-Bissauans, included in the survey, using amongs others responses to Mental Health Inventories (MHI) and the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) of the two groups using Portuguese non-migrants as a control group. Medical professionals’ views of these groups, obtained from interviews, their attitudes, complaints, use of services, acculturation and cultural competence are also taken into account, and the capacity of services to identify and attend to chronic and life-threatening conditions. Finally, the evidence presented above with regard to transcultural competence, experience of working with vulnerable groups and personal empathy on the part of GPs, is placed in the wider framework of the debate and research on public health and migration in current day Portugal and Europe.