Structural compensation and participatory approaches: a way to improve access to health care for undocumented migrants? - Article 29 - Abstract summary

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Terk

Across Europe, non-profit organisations provide health care to undocumented immigrants, compensating for gaps left by national systems through “structural compensation.” This scoping review identifies best practices for participatory approaches in structural compensation interventions targeting undocumented migrants. Following PRISMA, four databases were searched in June 2024, and nine studies met inclusion criteria. Results show limited and uneven participatory use; undocumented migrants were rarely involved and almost never in implementation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

vi110 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, Supplement 6, 2025 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180 .301 29 Structural compensation and participatory approaches: a way to improve access to health care for undocumented migrants? A scoping review Marie Dauvrin1 and Camille Guiheneuf 1UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium PTH 9: Miscellaneous 2, B302 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 11:30 - 12:24 Aims: Across Europe, non-profit organisations provide health care to undocumented immigrants (UDM), filling the gaps left by national healthcare systems. This approach is referred as ‘“structural compensation”. Integrating beneficiaries in developing interventionscan be a source of effectiveness, but evidence shows that UDM involvement is difficult. This scoping review aimed at identifying best practices related to participative approaches in structural compensation interventions targeting UDM. Methods: This scoping review follows the PRISMA guidelines. Four electronic databases were searched in June 2024. Nine studies met the final inclusion criteria. An analytic framework was developed based on the literature related to participatory approaches in health. This served to critically reflect on the integration of participative approaches and on the missed opportunities in the interventions. Results: Findings showed a limited but varied use of participatory approaches at the different stages of the development of the structural compensation interventions, but UDM were only at the initiative of the project in 1 intervention. UDM were never involved in the implementation and only 1 intervention included them in the intervention. Missed opportunities were found when UDM or community organisations could have been involved in designing the intervention but were not. the structural compensation organisations could be facilitators to support the participation of UDM. Conclusion: As UDM are insufficiently involved in the development of the interventions, there is a risk that these interventions are not adapted to their needs and miss their objective of compensating the gaps of the national health system. But, involving UDM should consider their personal priorities before striving for involving them at any cost. Community-based organisations and proxies could be an alternative way to better integrate UDM needs in these interventions. Structural compensation interventions could perform better if they integrate more participatory approaches in their development.

FAQs

What problem does the review address?

It examines how structural compensation interventions can improve undocumented migrants’ access to health care across Europe, and how participatory approaches are incorporated.

How was the scoping review conducted?

It followed PRISMA guidelines, searching four electronic databases in June 2024, and applying inclusion criteria that led to nine included studies.

What did the review find about undocumented migrants’ participation?

Participatory approaches were limited and varied across intervention stages; undocumented migrants were involved only at the project initiative in one intervention and were never involved in implementation, with only one including them in the intervention.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Terk