I’m pleased to share that my new article has just been published in the International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care (Emerald Publishing):

📘 “Cumulative navigation burden in health and social care among first-generation immigrants aged 41–67 in Finland, Sweden and No

rway”

The study draws on 29 qualitative interviews conducted in Finland, Sweden and Norway and examines what it takes to navigate health and social care services over time.
A key contribution of the article is the concept of cumulative navigation burden: the gradual build-up of informational, administrative and communicative work required to enter, use and remain connected to services.

The findings show that accessing care is often not a single event. It can involve repeated work—understanding official communication, monitoring digital channels, arranging appointments, explaining needs, following referrals and deciding whether another attempt to contact services is worth the effort.

The study also highlights an important tension around family support: relatives can make services more accessible, but relying on them may also affect privacy and autonomy.
I hope the concept of cumulative navigation burden can contribute to further discussion about how health and social care systems can become easier to navigate, particularly as services become increasingly digital.

The article is open access and available here:
https://www.emerald.com/ijmhsc/article/doi/10.1108/IJMHSC-04-2026-0073/1398282/Cumulative-navigation-burden-in-health-and-socialhttps://lnkd.in/dC3fwPAv

My sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the research and shared their experiences.

#MigrationHealth #HealthEquity #HealthServicesResearch #MigrationStudies #DigitalHealth #SocialCare #AgeingAndMigration #NordicCountries