Good health and physical activity as understood by imigrant women in Norway: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: The increased migration flow creates changing social situations as well as new challenges within European societies. The health sector is one of several sectors that are affected by the increased number of immigrants. In Norway, little research has been conducted on how health is understood and experienced by immigrants themselves, as well as the role of physical activity to good health, especially within a health promotion context. Objective: To examine how good health is understood by a group of immigrant women in Norway. Thereby put attention on the concept of health among immigrants with a non-European background. Further look into the role of physical activity in relation to the women’s understandings of good health. With that build knowledge of how physical activity possibly leads to subjective understandings and experiences of good health among immigrant women. Lastly, contextualize the findings within a specific health promotion theory by applying the theory of salutogenesis and the asset model. Method: A qualitative study within the theory of hermeneutic phenomenology was undertaken spring 2016. The sample consisted of 36 women. Data was produced through the use of participant observation, walking interviews and in-depth interviews.