Study population

The study population includes all newly arrived asylum seekers who have applied for asylum for the first time in Finland. Exclusion criteria are persons who: (1) reside in a detention centre; (2) have applied for asylum in another country and are transferred to Finland based on international agreements (internal transfer); (3) have been returned to Finland according to the Dublin regulation; (4) have previously had a residence permit in Finland; (5) and children born in Finland. The number of asylum applications varies on a weekly basis. Participants are recruited into the study approximately 2 weeks following registration of their asylum application in Finland. Such sampling frame requires continuous sampling of study participants compared with retrospective sampling that is generally used in health interview and health examination surveys. There are approximately 40–60 new asylum applications a week fitting the selection criteria of the study, which enables inclusion of the total population sample into the study.

Both adults and children are invited to participate in the study. This enables to link family members. The population-based sample is drawn on a weekly basis from an electronic database containing data on all asylum seekers in Finland and maintained by the Finnish Immigration Services. Each asylum seeker receives a unique identity number that is used throughout the asylum seeking process. Additional registered information includes date of the asylum application, name, sex, date and country of birth, nationality, mother tongue and desired language of the interpreter services.

Recruitment of study participants

Currently (2018), there are altogether 49 reception centres in Finland, out of which 43 are for adults and families and 6 are for unaccompanied minors. The number of reception centres varies depending on the number of asylum applications and the speed of the decision processes. A substantial majority of adults and families are initially directed to transit reception centres, where they wait for the asylum interview. Transit reception centres are located in Helsinki (capital of Finland), Turku, Joutseno and Oulu (figure 2). Some newly arrived asylum seekers arrange private housing for themselves. In such case, they are allocated to the geographically closest reception centre for provision of health and social services throughout the asylum process. Unaccompanied minors are usually directed to units for minors, where they remain throughout the entire asylum process. Participants of the TERTTU Survey are recruited at an early stage of the asylum process, therefore permanent study sites have been set up at the transit reception centres. Since the TERTTU Survey is based on a total population sample, the survey is also conducted in any other national reception centres where the persons included into the study sample are situated.

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Figure 2

Permanent study locations in transit reception centres.

Recruitment of study participants in transit reception centres is outlined in figure 3. Recruitment is the responsibility of the research nurse. However, reception centre personnel have a central role in facilitating the initial contact between the research nurse and persons belonging to the study sample. An invitation with a set time for a reach-out appointment with the research nurse and a brief information leaflet are delivered to asylum seekers by reception centre personnel. The information leaflet is available in the study languages and is designed to be understandable even with limited language or literacy skills (see online supplementary figure 1).

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Figure 3

Flow chart of the baseline Asylum Seekers Health and Wellbeing (TERTTU) Survey. 

The purpose of the reach-out appointment is that the research nurse makes personal contact with the persons invited to participate in the study. By providing information on the aims and content of the study, the research nurse ensures that the person invited to participate has sufficient information to give informed consent for participation. Booking a reach-out time is the only possibility for personal contact as no telephone numbers are available for newly arrived asylum seekers and research nurses do not have access to the living areas of the reception centres due to security regulations. If the asylum seeker does not arrive to their reach-out appointment, the research nurse requests the reception centre’s social counsellors to see if the person is in their dorm. If the person is on the premises of the reception centre, they are asked to come to the reception desk and talk with the research nurse. Otherwise, a new reach-out appointment is booked up to three times, unless the person expresses explicit decline from participation to reception centre personnel.

Asylum seekers living in other reception centres or in private housing are also approached through the reception centre as no personal contact information is initially available. The research nurse or the project coordinator contact the reception centre director via email and explain the purpose of the study. Following this, the research nurse contacts the reception centre for specific arrangements. Telephone contact information is usually available for persons living in private housing and in such case the research nurse contacts persons invited to participate directly by telephone. In case of unaccompanied minors, the initial contact is with the reception centre to enquire for contact details of the legal guardian who is approached by email or by telephone by the research coordinator. If the legal guardian gives consent, the unaccompanied minor is contacted and invited to participate in the study.

Two hours are booked in the research nurses’ schedule for each reach out time, which allows for conduct of the study straight away if the person agrees to participate. Alternatively, another time is agreed on. Prior to starting the interview and the health examination, the research nurse confirms the identity of the participant by checking their personal identification card. Participants are provided with detailed written information about the study, including the purpose of the study, how the collected information will be used, data protection, the rights of participants and who is responsible for conduct of the study. If written information is not available in the language spoken by the asylum seeker or the person is illiterate, the research nurse goes through written information with assistance of the professional interpreter. The purpose of the study is explained to minors in an age-appropriate manner.

Participants are asked to sign written informed consent. Separate consent is acquired for: (1) the use of the data for research and development purposes within the National Institute for Health and Welfare; (2) sharing anonymised data with researchers outside the institute; (3) record linkage of electronic patient register data to survey data; and (4) record linkage of national register data to survey data if asylum is granted in Finland. Guardians of minors sign informed consent. Additionally, children aged 7 years and older also give written informed consent. The consent form is designed in an age-appropriate manner.

Data collection

The study consists of a standardised face-to-face interview and a health examination. Duration of the study is approximately 1 hour if conducted in the mother tongue of the participant and approximately 2 hours if an interpreter is used. Some of the questions concerning mental health as well as sexual and reproductive health can be completed as self-administered questionnaires during the interview. The research nurse records whether these were interviewed or self-completed by the participants. Interviews and health examinations have been tailored for four age groups: (1) adults; (2) 13–17 year-olds; (3) 7–12 year-olds; and (4) 0–6 years. Adults and 13–17 year-olds provide their own answers for the interview, whereas the guardians of 0–12 year-olds answer to the interview questions concerning children. Minors aged 0–12 years participate only in the health examination. Research nurses received extensive training over the course of 8 days on research methods, purpose and content of the study, interview techniques as well as on conduct of standardised interview and health examination. Quality control of data collection is also monitored at different stages of data collection following the European Health Examination Survey (EHES) fieldwork quality control guidelines.24

Face-to-face interview

The face-to-face interview consists of measures used for assessment of the health, well-being, service needs of asylum seekers as well as for identification of vulnerable populations. Use of simple language was taken into account. When appropriate, selected measures are comparable with those used in other population-based surveys conducted among the general population as well as among populations of migrant origin permanently living in Finland. The content of the interview by age group is outlined in table 2. The themes covered in the interview for adults include sociodemographics, asylum seeking journey, literacy, previous socioeconomic status, health status, sexual and reproductive health, traumatic events, mental health, health behaviour and social networks. The interview for children under the age of 18 covers similar themes when relevant. Additionally, early childhood and development are also covered.

Health examination

Health examination measurements are carried out following the EHES protocol.24 The content of the health examination is outlined in table 3. The health examination of adults and 13–17 year-olds consists of standardised measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, upper arm circumference, blood pressure and a dental examination. For children belonging to the 7–12 years age group, health examination consists of measurements of weight and height, dental examination and evaluation of condition of the skin. The health examination of children aged 0–6 years consists of evaluation of the condition of the skin and examination for BCG scar.

Linkage with register-based data

On separate consent, data collected during the TERTTU Survey can be supplemented with unified national electronic health record data of the reception centres on the basis of the unique personal identity number. This allows for following the health of asylum seekers from the initial point of arrival to Finland throughout the entire reception processes. On a separate consent, data collected during the TERTTU Survey can be supplemented with data from the national registers on the health, well-being and health service use of those who have been granted an asylum (table 4). Feasibility of this record linkage will be evaluated after a follow-up period. Record linkage with national registers provides with a unique opportunity to examine how the health of asylum seekers evolves throughout their life course.

Linkage with biological data from the immunity against vaccine preventable diseases study

Parallel to the TERTTU Survey, a cross-sectional Immunity Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases Study is conducted between 2018 and 2019. The aim of the Immunity Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases Study is to assess previous immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and polio among asylum seekers coming from countries with higher incidence of vaccine preventable diseases.25 The study recruits all asylum seekers from Afganistan, Iraq, Russia and Somalia who have not yet received vaccines in Finland, with the aim of gathering a minimum 100 samples per each study group. Blood samples are drawn in connection with the voluntary multiphasic screening for blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections currently offered to all asylum seekers during the initial health assessment. Nurses working in transit centres are responsible for recruitment of study participants. Participants provide written informed consent. On a separate consent, results from the Immunity Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases Study can be linked with information on sociodemographics and self-reported history of vaccinations collected during the TERTTU Survey. The Immunity Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases Study is coordinated by the National Institute for Health and Welfare and funded by the National Vaccination Program.

Power and data analysis

The aim is to gather data on a minimum of 1000 newly arrived asylum seekers. The minimum sample size for the study was calculated manually. Limited project time frame and resources restrict gathering a larger sample. The formula for calculations is enclosed as supplementary material (see online  supplementary figure 2). Based on register data on the numbers, country of origin and age of first-time asylum applicants between the years of 2014 and 2016, it is projected that a sample of 1000 participants would constitute of 700 for adults and 100 minors for each of the minor age groups (0–6 years, 7–12 years and 13–17 years). This estimation was calculated assuming simple random sampling. In practice, however, with total population sampling, participation in the study will be influenced by family clusters. Members of the same family are likely to either all participate in the study or decline from participation. Calculation of estimates assuming cluster sampling was, however, not possible at the planning stage of the study because the available register data on asylum applicants from the previous years does not include information on how many families have arrived, nor on the composition of these families.

Using simple random sampling, an estimate of 700 adults would have a CI of roughly ±3.5%, and ±5% when examined by sex (n=350). A sample of 100 for each minor age group would result in CIs of ±10% or less. Thus, projected CIs will produce estimates of adequate accuracy if simple random sampling were applied.26 It should be, however, stressed that the CIs presented above were calculated using simple random sampling, whereas in practice cluster sampling (from family units) will be done. This is an acknowledged limitation in this study’s power calculations. Therefore, the provided CIs should be viewed as initial estimates only, and wider CIs than these are expected. This issue will be counteracted by using finite population correction,27 the formula for which is presented in the online supplementary figure 2. After finite population correction is applied, it is expected that despite cluster sampling, data on a minimum of 1000 persons will nonetheless produce estimates of adequate accuracy. Family clusters will be taken into account in all of the data analyses following the end of data collection.

The main findings of the study will be reported as a report focusing on basic findings as mean and median values, as well as proportions and their CIs. These will be presented separately for adults, 13–17 year-olds, 7–12 year-olds and 0–6 year-olds and by regions of origin. The categories for regions of origin will depend on the final number of participants from different regions. Groupings will be made according to established regional categories, for example, according to the United Nations Statistics Division groupings28 or the World Bank regional groupings.29 The effect of non-response will be assessed based on age, sex and country of origin of all asylum seekers registered in the national electronic asylum database maintained by the Finnish Immigration Service. Based on these analyses, sample weights will be calculated, if necessary, to correct for the effect of non-response.

Following the publication of the basic report, data will be made available to researchers for in-depth analyses. Total population sampling allows to examine family units. This provides with a unique opportunity to examine how the health, well-being and health service needs of, for example, parents influence those of their children in later in-depth analyses. These regression analyses will be carried out using a mixed model that includes family unit as a random effect.

Patient and public involvement

The purpose of the strudy is to fill the gap in knowledge on the health, well-being and health service use among asylum seekers. The study was designed consulting a consortium of experts on the topic of the health and well-being of asylum seekers. Persons with asylum seeker background were included into the steering committee and have provided their insights on the content of the study. No patients were directly involved in recruitment or conduct of the study. Results of the study benefit participants in that they receive information on their health and are consulted to seek further medical advice if a need for such is identified over the course of the study. Results will be disseminated in the reception centres, through media and publicly available reports on a national and international level.

Ethical aspects

Participation in the TERTTU Survey is based on voluntary informed written consent. Participants are informed concerning personal data protection, sovereignty of the study in terms of the person’s asylum seeking process and confidentiality of the answers. It is made clear that the TERTTU Survey does not substitute the initial health assessment provided by the reception centres. Furthermore, participants are informed that they are fully entitled to decline from participation or interrupt participation at any moment without the need for providing a reason and that they are also entitled to request deletion of their data. Participants are also informed that they are entitled to leave some questions unanswered and that they may refuse any measurement.

All of the data are collected during a one-on-one research appointment. None of the data collected during the study is shared with a third person (eg, spouse, parent of 13–17 year-olds who participate independently, or reception centre personnel). Research nurses are bound by a confidentiality clause and have been trained in key principles of research ethics. Professional interpreters provide their services via the telephone, which provides a higher degree of confidentiality for the participant.

Participants are given oral and written feedback on their health examination measures. If a need for further healthcare services arises over the course of the survey visit, research nurses recommend participants to contact the reception centre nurse. All of the TERTTU Survey data are managed following the National Institute for Health and Welfare’s protocol for handling sensitive data. Each study participant is given a random study ID number, and data iare handled without personal identification information.

Incentives (eg, bus cards and toy packages for children) valued at approximately €10 are given to all participants.

Dissemination of information about the TERTTU Survey

Information about the TERTTU Survey is broadly disseminated both at national and international levels at all stages of the study. Since the TERTTU Survey has been specifically designed to bridge the gap in knowledge on the health and well-being of asylum seekers in Finland, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Welfare and Health and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment are regularly updated on the progress of the study, and these updates are transferred into various country reports compiled by the ministries. The TERTTU Survey has been presented to a number of international collaborators and at several international congresses. Possibilities for research collaboration with international partners will be explored.

The main findings of the baseline TERTTU Survey will be reported by the end of summer 2019, and they will be widely disseminated at both national and international level. Following this, TERTTU Survey data will be available for research purposes on an accepted study proposal. Evidence-based health examination protocol will be developed and disseminated across reception centres on a national level by the end of 2019.