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Background Approximately every fourth person in Germany has a migration background. Health research on the use of primary and specialist health care in this group is still scarce. Few studies have suggested a difference in the use of primary and specialist health care among people with a migration background. Potential resources and barriers to health care access should be investigated as they are critical to health equity. This study investigates associated sociodemographic, migration-sensitive, and health-related factors of primary and specialist health care utilization among people with a migration background as defined by nationality. Methods Analyses are based on data from a feasibility study of the project “Improving Health Monitoring in Migrant Populations” (IMIRA), conducted by the Robert Koch Institute. The sample (n = 1055) included persons with Croatian, Polish, Romanian, Syrian, and Turkish nationalities living in the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. Descriptive and bivariate analyses as well as multiple binary logistic regression analyses were carried out to assess sociodemographic (sex, age, socioeconomic position), health-related (self-rated health), and migration-sensitive factors (duration of residence in Germany, residence status, German language proficiency) associated with the use of primary and specialist health care services in the past 12 months. Results Of the total study population, 79.62% visited a general practitioner and 59.53% a specialized physician in the past 12 months. Participants who were female sex, aged 65 and older, and with moderate/poor/very poor self-rated health had higher odds of visiting a general practitioner and a specialized physician, with the strongest impact from self-rated health. After controlling for sociodemographic and health-related factors, duration of residence in Germany and residence status were associated with primary but not with specialist health care utilization. Conclusions Our results suggest that migration-sensitive characteristics, such as duration of residence, should be considered in a differentiated manner in health services research to gain detailed insights into health care utilization and its potential barriers among the heterogenous group of people with a migration background. Further research needs to be done to evaluate how to get people into contact with a general practitioner.

Public health research has increasingly focused on migration as a determinant of health. Responsible research in this area requires an anti-discriminatory approach in its conduct, reporting and dissemination. A discrimination-sensitive use of language is a central element. Guidelines in this regard do not yet exist for the field of public health in German-speaking countries.Within the framework of the project Improving Health Monitoring in Migrant Populations (IMIRA) at the Robert Koch Institute, a guideline on anti-discriminatory language in research on migration and health was developed. It consists of a manual and an overview of relevant terms and concepts. The needs, content and form of the guideline were developed in an action research process with project staff from the IMIRA project.The manual shows the following five basic principles for anti-discriminatory language use: (1) avoid generalisations, (2) formulate in a discrimination-sensitive way, (3) use self-designations and external designations, (4) recognise that terms are subject to constant change and (5) openly communicate one's own uncertainties. The overview, which is available online as a "living document", contains terms and concepts that are frequently used in association with the topic of migration.The guideline is intended to support researchers in using language in an anti-discriminatory way. This goes hand in hand with a reflection on one's own language use and strengthens responsible research on the topic of migration and health.HINTERGRUND: In der Public-Health-Forschung ist Migration als eine Determinante von Gesundheit zunehmend in den Fokus gerückt. Verantwortungsvolle Forschung in diesem Bereich setzt eine antidiskriminierende Vorgehensweise in der Durchführung, Berichterstattung und Ergebnisdissemination voraus. Ein diskriminierungssensibler Sprachgebrauch ist dabei ein zentrales Element. Handreichungen hierzu gibt es im deutschsprachigen Raum für den Bereich Public Health bisher nicht.Im Rahmen des Projektes Improving Health Monitoring in Migrant Populations (IMIRA) am Robert Koch-Institut wurde eine Handreichung zu antidiskriminierender Sprache in der Forschung zu Migration und Gesundheit entwickelt, die aus einem Leitfaden und einer Übersicht über relevante Begriffe und Konzepte besteht. Die Bedarfe, Inhalte und Form dazu wurden in einem Aktionsforschungsprozess mit Projektmitarbeitenden aus dem IMIRA-Projekt erarbeitet.Der Leitfaden zeigt 5 Grundprinzipien für einen antidiskriminierenden Sprachgebrauch auf: 1. Generalisierungen und Verallgemeinerungen vermeiden, 2. diskriminierungssensibel formulieren, 3. Selbst- und Fremdbezeichnungen berücksichtigen, 4. Begriffe unterliegen einem ständigen Wandel und 5. eigene Unsicherheiten offen kommunizieren. Die Übersicht, welche online als „Living Document“ zur Verfügung steht, beinhaltet Begriffe und Konzepte, die im Zusammenhang mit dem Thema Gesundheit und Migration häufig verwendet werden.Die Handreichung soll Forschende dafür sensibilisieren und dabei unterstützen, Sprache antidiskriminierend anzuwenden. Dies geht mit einer Reflexion der eigenen Sprache einher und stärkt verantwortungsvolle Forschung zum Thema Migration und Gesundheit. Die Nutzung und der Nutzen der Handreichung können Gegenstand zukünftiger Evaluationen sein.

Introduction: Until today, the role of children in the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be dynamic and is not finally resolved. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in child day care centers and connected households as well as transmission-related indicators and clinical symptoms among children and adults.Methods and Analysis: COALA (“Corona outbreak-related examinations in day care centers”) is a day care center- and household-based study with a case-ascertained study design. Based on day care centers with at least one reported case of SARS-CoV-2, we include one- to six-year-old children and staff of the affected group in the day care center as well as their respective households. We visit each child's and adult's household. During the home visit we take from each household member a combined mouth and nose swab as well as a saliva sample for analysis of SARS-CoV-2-RNA by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) and a capillary blood sample for a retrospective assessment of an earlier SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, information on health status, socio-demographics and COVID-19 protective measures are collected via a short telephone interview in the subsequent days. In the following 12 days, household members (or parents for their children) self-collect the same respiratory samples as described above every 3 days and a stool sample for children once. COVID-19 symptoms are documented daily in a symptom diary. Approximately 35 days after testing the index case, every participant who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the study is re-visited at home for another capillary blood sample and a standardized interview. The analysis includes secondary attack rates, by age of primary case, both in the day care center and in households, as well as viral shedding dynamics, including the beginning of shedding relative to symptom onset and viral clearance.Discussion: The results contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological and virological transmission-related indicators of SARS-CoV-2 among young children, as compared to adults and the interplay between day care and households.

Profound data on adolescent health literacy are needed as a requirement for the development of health literacy promoting interventions. This paper aims to study the level of generic health literacy among adolescents and to explore associations between health literacy and socio-demographic (age, sex, family affluence, migration background), social (social support by family and friends) and personal (self-efficacy) factors. We conducted a representative cross-sectional online survey. Four health literacy dimensions were captured among 14&ndash, 17 years old adolescents living in Germany (n = 1235) with the &ldquo, Measurement of Health Literacy Among Adolescents-Questionnaire&rdquo, (MOHLAA-Q). Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data (n = 1202). We found poor health literacy levels&mdash, to varying degrees&mdash, in all examined health literacy dimensions: dealing with health-related information (8.41% with many difficulties), health-related communication skills (28.13% with low skills), attitudes toward one&rsquo, s own health and health information (8.81% with passive attitudes) and health-related knowledge (22.73% with low levels). We identified significant associations between poor health literacy levels and all factors studied except for age. Our results indicate a need for the implementation of evidence-based health literacy-related promoting interventions, preferentially in education and training institutions.

The promotion of health literacy at a young age can protect, maintain and improve health across the life course. Yet to date, a sound data basis on adolescent health literacy as a requirement for the development of strategies to promote health literacy has not been given. This paper presents a study protocol for the online survey “Health Literacy Among Adolescents” (GeKoJu) that collects the first nation-wide representative data on self-reported generic health among adolescents aged 14−17 years in Germany. The objectives of the survey are (1) to assess the distribution of generic health literacy among adolescents in Germany, (2) to identify socio-demographic and social factors in regard to health literacy and (3) to assess the association of health literacy and health-related outcomes. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2019 through December 2019. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy was applied. Individuals invited to participate in the survey (N = 6608) were randomly selected among German-speaking adolescents aged 14−17 years, with permanent residence in Germany. Generic health literacy is measured with the “Measurement of Health Literacy Among Adolescents-Questionnaire” (MOHLAA-Q). Data collection also covers questions on health behavior, subjective health status, personal and social resources, socio-demographic and social factors and health services use. Results of the GeKoJu survey will provide data for the development of strategies to promote generic health literacy among families, in schools, communities and health care.