Living infodemics across borders: experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic among migrants from India living in Norway

During the COVID-19 pandemic, migrants living in Norway navigated a complex "infodemic", which encompassed diverse health information sources from health authorities and media from both local and their home country. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Indian migrants in Norway related to their encounters with varied, and sometimes inaccurate and conflicting information between India and Norway amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 Indian migrants and data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis yielded five main themes: (1) Transnational sources of information, (2) Drivers for trusting information, (3) Transnational healthcare-seeking behavior, (4) Influences underlying decision-making, and (5) Emotional impact of conflicting information. Our findings highlight the complexities of information consumption and its effects on the cognitive-emotional processes of migrants, discussing the role of factors such as familiarity, emotional ties, and trust. Further, the study identified the need for culturally sensitive health communication interventions, the establishment of trust with migrant communities through accurate information dissemination, and the requirement of strategies to support the emotional well-being of migrants in situations when health information varies quickly and differ geographically. The implications of this research extend to the development of effective public health strategies for migrant communities during global health crises.