Co-creating health literacy actions for prevention of NCDs among migrants in Portugal

Abstract Background Addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes requires strategies that respond to the lived experiences and realities of those most affected. Some migrant groups often encounter social, linguistic, cultural and systemic barriers that limit access to preventive care, early diagnosis and effective self-management. This participatory health literacy project aimed to cocreate actions to support NCDs prevention and improve health equity among migrants in Portugal. Methods Guided by the Optimising Health Literacy and Access (Ophelia) process, the project engaged >1200 migrants from diverse backgrounds through a multilingual health literacy survey, in-depth interviews and interactive workshops. These methods enabled to identify community strengths, challenges and preferences related to health information, services access and disease prevention. Results A set of “ideas generation” workshops, led by trained migrant peer researchers, brought together community members and health/social care professionals. The workshops used narrative vignettes based on real-life experiences to stimulate discussion and collective problem-solving. This inclusive process generated 72 actionable ideas for improving health literacy and access to care. Proposed actions included: establishing “citizen hubs” in primary care centres to assist service navigation and interpretation; integrating health-related modules into PT language courses to support both language development and health literacy; creating WhatsApp-based support groups for managing chronic conditions; training for healthcare providers on culturally competent communication. Conclusions By actively involving migrants in identifying and designing solutions, this project contributes to more inclusive, relevant and effective approaches to NCD prevention. Selected ideas are being piloted to inform national and international strategies for scaling up participatory health literacy development.