Esperanza Diaz

Professor, Director Pandemic Center

Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care

E-mailEsperanza.Diaz@uib.no
Phone+47 55 58 61 44+47 474 14 104
Visitor Address
Alrek helseklynge, blokk D, Årstadveien 17

5009 Bergen
Postal Address
Postboks 7804

5020 Bergen

Esperanza Diaz is a medical doctor educated in Spain (1995) and a specialist in general medicine in Norway since 2003. In addition to her positions as head of the Pandemic Center since 2020 and professor at the Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care at UiB, she also works as a senior researcher (20 %) at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Diaz has researched migrant health since 2008, written over 150 peer-reviewed articles on the subject and published the book Migrant Health: A Primary Care Perspective. Esperanza Diaz has extensive experience in collaborating across faculties, institutions and groups in the population. Diaz has developed and led the Pandemic Center since 2020. The Pandemic center is administratively anchored at IGS but is an interdisciplinary center with representatives from all seven faculties at UiB.

Working across disciplines and with non-academic environments, as well as the inclusion of social inequality in health in a pandemic perspective, have been keywords in Diaz's research in recent years. In 2023, she leads the NFR-funded project Integration for health (in Norwegian), which follows the project Changes in health and health needs among Syrian refugees on their way to Norway (in Norwegian). She is also involved as a partner in other NFR projects such as EQUALPART - Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) and from 2024 will also be a partner in the EU-financed the UniHealth project.

Diaz has taught several topics related to general medicine, including clinical consultation, ENT in general practice, pregnancy control in general practice, clinical meetings with patients from other cultures, narrative medicine, and unfortunate events, as part of the position at UiB. In recent years, she has mainly taught migration and health and pandemic-related topics. In both subjects, she has developed her own PhD/subject courses (Migration and Health | Universitetet i Bergen (uib.no) and Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic: an interdisciplinary approach | Universitetet i Bergen (uib.no)) Speaker at several courses for medical students, nursing students and doctors in Spain and Norway since 1999.

Academic article

Show author(s) (2024). Trends in cervical cancer screening in Norway 2012–2017: a comparison study of non-immigrant and immigrant women. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.
Show author(s) (2024). Perceived discrimination and its association with self-rated health, chronic pain, mental health, and utilization of health services among Syrian refugees in Norway: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health.
Show author(s) (2024). Discrimination and health: A cross-sectional study comparing Muslims with other-religious. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 1-8.

Show author(s) (2023). Occupation-related factors affecting the health of migrants working during the COVID-19 pandemic – a qualitative study in Norway. International Journal for Equity in Health. 11 pages.
Show author(s) (2023). Mental Health of Immigrant Children and Adolescents (6-17 Years) in Canada: Evidence from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH).
Show author(s) (2023). Food insecurity and its association with mental health among Syrian refugees resettled in Norway: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Migration and Health.
Show author(s) (2023). A Culturally Adapted Diet and Physical Activity Text Message Intervention to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for Women of Pakistani Origin Living in Scotland: Formative Study. JMIR Formative Research.

Show author(s) (2022). ‘Who is telling the truth?’ Migrants’ experiences with COVID-19 related information in Norway: a qualitative study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 9 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). The evolvement of trust in response to the COVID-19 pandemic among migrants in Norway. International Journal for Equity in Health. 1-12.
Show author(s) (2022). The acceptability and effect of a culturally-tailored dance intervention to promote physical activity in women of South Asian origin at risk of diabetes in the Netherlands—A mixed-methods feasibility study. PLOS ONE. 21 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). Self-rated health and quality of life among Syrian refugees in Ireland – data from a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 9 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). Polish immigrants’ access to colorectal cancer screening in Norway – a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research. 1-14.
Show author(s) (2022). Migration health research in the Nordic countries: Priorities and implications for public health. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 1039-1046.
Show author(s) (2022). Medication Use among Immigrants from Syria Living in Western Norway: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pharmacoepidemiology. 76-88.
Show author(s) (2022). General Practice/Family Medicine Research During the Pandemic: Showing the Links to the EGPRN Research Strategy. Eurasian Journal of Family Medicine.
Show author(s) (2022). Effect of a self-help group intervention using Teaching Recovery Techniques to improve mental health among Syrian refugees in Norway: a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 11 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). Disparities in the offer of COVID-19 vaccination to migrants and non-migrants in Norway: a cross sectional survey study. BMC Public Health. 12 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). Covid-19, vaksiner og innvandrere. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). COVID-19: information access, trust and adherence to health advice among migrants in Norway. Archives of Public Health. 10 pages.

Show author(s) (2021). Use of health care services among Syrian refugees migrating to Norway: a prospective longitudinal study. BMC Health Services Research. 11 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). The road to equitable healthcare: A conceptual model developed from a qualitative study of Syrian refugees in Norway. Social Science and Medicine. 8 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). The correlation between socioeconomic factors and COVID-19 among immigrants in Norway: a register-based study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 9 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). Restless legs syndrome - a study from general practice. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 12 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). Physician factors associated with medical errors in Norwegian primary care emergency services. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. 429-437.
Show author(s) (2021). Overuse or underuse? Use of healthcare services among irregular migrants in a north-eastern Spanish region. International Journal for Equity in Health. 11 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). Matusikkerhet under den første fasen av koronapandemien blant innvandrere og for hele befolkningen i Norge. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 9 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic among migrants: An innovative, system-level, interdisciplinary approach is needed to improve public health . Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 804-808.
Show author(s) (2021). General practitioners’ management of depression symptoms in Somali refugee and Norwegian patients: a film vignette experiment. BMJ Open. 1-11.
Show author(s) (2021). Effect of a community-based intervention to increase participation in cervical cancer screening among Pakistani and Somali women in Norway. BMC Public Health. 9 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). A qualitative study on the experiences of southern European immigrant parents navigating the Norwegian healthcare system. International Journal for Equity in Health. 1-12.

Show author(s) (2020). The effect of physiotherapy group intervention in reducing pain disorders and mental health symptoms among syrian refugees: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). 15 pages.
Show author(s) (2020). Physician factors associated with increased risk for complaints in primary care emergency services: a case - control study. BMC Family Practice. 1-8.
Show author(s) (2020). Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths. International Journal for Equity in Health. 1-9.
Show author(s) (2020). Health status and use of medication and their association with migration related exposures among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Norway: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 1-9.
Show author(s) (2020). Effect of an intervention in general practice to increase the participation of immigrants in cervical cancer screening: A cluster randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open. 12 pages.
Show author(s) (2020). Changes in self-rated health and quality of life among Syrian refugees migrating to Norway: a prospective longitudinal study . International Journal for Equity in Health. 1-9.
Show author(s) (2020). Changes in health among Syrian refugees along their migration trajectories from Lebanon to Norway: a prospective cohort study. Public Health. 240-245.
Show author(s) (2020). Barriers to access to the Norwegian healthcare system among sub-Saharan African immigrant women exposed to female genital cutting. PLOS ONE. 1-22.

Show author(s) (2019). Two interventions to treat pain disorders and post-traumatic symptoms among Syrian refugees: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 1-9.
Show author(s) (2019). The definition of immigrant status matters: Impact of nationality, country of origin, and length of stay in host country on mortality estimates. BMC Public Health.
Show author(s) (2019). Strategies to improve research capacity across European general practice: The views of members of EGPRN and Wonca Europe. European Journal of General Practice. 25-31.
Show author(s) (2019). Sense of community belonging among immigrants: perspective of immigrant service providers. Public Health. 28-33.
Show author(s) (2019). Accessing public healthcare in Oslo, Norway: The experiences of Thai immigrant masseuses. BMC Health Services Research.
Show author(s) (2019). Access to Norwegian healthcare system - Challenges for sub-Saharan African immigrants. International Journal for Equity in Health. 1-13.
Show author(s) (2019). A community-based intervention to increase participation in cervical cancer screening among immigrants in Norway. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 1-8.

Show author(s) (2018). Use of hormonal contraceptives among immigrant women and their daughters in Norway: Data from the Norwegian Prescription Database. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1-8.
Show author(s) (2018). Health care-seeking patterns for female genital mutilation/cutting among young Somalis in Norway. BMC Public Health. 10 pages.
Show author(s) (2018). Health care curricula in multicultural societies. International Journal of Medical Education. 42-44.
Show author(s) (2018). Experiences with a national strategy on migrant health in Norway. European Journal of Public Health.
Show author(s) (2018). Developing culturally adapted lifestyle interventions for South Asian migrant populations: a qualitative study of the key success factors and main challenges. Public Health. 50-58.
Show author(s) (2018). Cervical cancer screening among immigrant women in Norway- The healthcare providers’ perspectives. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. 415-422.
Show author(s) (2018). An observational study of immigrant mortality differences in Norway by reason for migration, length of stay and characteristics of sending countries. BMC Public Health. 12 pages.

Show author(s) (2017). Primary healthcare usage and use of medications among immigrant children according to age of arrival to Norway: A population-based study. BMJ Open. 1-9.
Show author(s) (2017). Multimorbidity and immigrant status: associations with area of origin and length of residence in host country. Family Practice. 662-666.
Show author(s) (2017). Migration and social determinants of mental health: Results from the Canadian health measures survey. Canadian journal of public health. e362-e367.
Show author(s) (2017). General practitioners' strategies in consultations with immigrants in Norway - practice-based shared reflections among participants in focus groups. Family Practice. 216-221.
Show author(s) (2017). Differences in primary health care use among sub-Saharan African immigrants in Norway: A register-based study. BMC Health Services Research. 1-8.
Show author(s) (2017). Barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening among Pakistani and somali immigrant women in Oslo: A qualitative study. International Journal of Women's Health. 487-496.

Show author(s) (2016). Socioeconomic status and primary health service use for mental health problems among immigrants with short and long lengths of stay. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. 85-98.
Show author(s) (2016). Primary health care utilisation and morbidity among immigrant children compared to non-immigrant children: a population-based study in Norway. BMJ Open. 1-8.
Show author(s) (2016). Patterns of pharmaceutical use for immigrants to Spain and Norway: A comparative study of prescription databases in two European countries. International Journal for Equity in Health. 1-11.
Show author(s) (2016). Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication: The role of mental and physical comorbidity. International Journal of Cardiology. 310-316.
Show author(s) (2016). Mental Health of Refugees and Non-refugees from War-Conflict Countries: Data from Primary Healthcare Services and the Norwegian Prescription Database. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
Show author(s) (2016). Global healthcare use by immigrants in Spain according to morbidity burden, area of origin, and length of stay. BMC Public Health.
Show author(s) (2016). Differences in cervical cancer screening between immigrants and nonimmigrants in Norway: a primary healthcare register-based study. European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 521-527.

Show author(s) (2015). The healthy migrant effect in primary care. GACETA SANITARIA JOURNAL. 15-20.
Show author(s) (2015). Multimorbidity and its patterns according to immigrant origin. A nationwide register-based study in Norway. PLOS ONE.
Show author(s) (2015). Multimorbidity among registered immigrants in Norway: the role of reason for migration and length of stay. Tropical medicine & international health. 1805-1814.
Show author(s) (2015). Managing mental health problems among immigrant women attending primary health care services. Health Care for Women International. 118-139.
Show author(s) (2015). Lung Function in Rural Guatemalan Women Before and After a Chimney Stove Intervention to Reduce Wood Smoke Exposure: Results From the Randomized Exposure Study of Pollution Indoors and Respiratory Effects and Chronic Respiratory Effects of Early Childhood Exposure to Respirable Particulate Matter Study. Chest. 1184-1192.
Show author(s) (2015). Immigrant patients with dementia and memory impairment in primary health care in Norway: A national registry study. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. 321-331.
Show author(s) (2015). How do immigrants use primary health care services? A register-based study in Norway. European Journal of Public Health. 72-78.

Show author(s) (2014). Use of hormonal contraceptives among immigrant and native women in Norway: data from the Norwegian Prescription Database. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1221-1228.
Show author(s) (2014). Immigrants' use of primary health care services for mental health problems. BMC Health Services Research. 8 pages.
Show author(s) (2014). Immigrant and native regular general practitioners in Norway. A comparative registry-based observational study. European Journal of General Practice. 93-99.
Show author(s) (2014). How adolescent subjective health and satisfaction with weight and body shape are related to participation in sports. Journal of Environmental and Public Health.
Show author(s) (2014). Frequent attenders in general practice and immigrant status in Norway: a nationwide cross-sectional study. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. 232-240.
Show author(s) (2014). Differential utilization of primary health care services among older immigrants and Norwegians: a register-based comparative study in Norway. BMC Health Services Research.
Show author(s) (2014). Associations of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function with Measured Carbon Monoxide Concentrations among Nonsmoking Women Exposed to Household Air Pollution: The RESPIRE Trial, Guatemala. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Show author(s) (2012). Immigrants' use of emergency primary health care in Norway: a registry-based observational study. BMC Health Services Research.
Show author(s) (2012). Immigrants' use of emergency primary health care in Norway: a registry-based observational study. BMC Health Services Research. 10 pages.
Show author(s) (2012). Hvilke fastleger deltar i legevakt? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 2277-2280.
Show author(s) (2012). Fastlegepasienters bruk av legevakt. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.
Show author(s) (2012). Clinical practice patterns among native and immigrant doctors doing out-of-hours work in Norway: a registry-based observational study. BMJ Open.

Show author(s) (2011). Immigrant general practitioners in Norway: A special resource? A qualitative study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 239-244.

Show author(s) (2009). Effect of reducing indoor air pollution on women’s respiratory symptoms and lung function: The RESPIRE Randomized Trial, Guatemala. American Journal of Epidemiology. 211-220.

Show author(s) (2008). Self-rated health among Mayan women participating in a randomised intervention trial reducing indoor air pollution in Guatemala. BMC International Health and Human Rights.

Show author(s) (2007). Lung function and symptoms among indigenous Mayan women exposed to high levels of indoor air pollution. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 1372-1379.
Show author(s) (2007). Eye discomfort, headache and back pain among Mayan Guatemalan women taking part in a randomised stove intervention trial. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 74-79.

Show author(s) (2004). Reducing indoor air pollution with a randomised intervention design � A presentation of the Stove Intervention Study in the Guatemalan Highlands. Norsk Epidemiologi. 137-143.

Report

Show author(s) (2021). Covid-19 by country of birth in Bergen: Persons tested, confirmed infections and associated hospitalizations. .

Lecture

Show author(s) (2020). Er kroniske smerter relatert til opplevelse av sammenheng blant syriske flyktninger? .

Academic lecture

Show author(s) (2020). Å navigere i et ukjent landskap: innvandrerforeldres opplevelse av diagnostisering og behandling i primærhelsetjenesten i Norge.
Show author(s) (2020). Forandringer i røykevaner og bruk av alkohol under migrasjon – en kohortstudie blant syriske flyktninger i Libanon og i Norge.
Show author(s) (2020). Effect of group treatment on physical inactivity among Syrian refugees with pain disorders and/or post-traumatic symptoms. A randomised controlled trial.
Show author(s) (2020). Access to healthcare and self-rated health among refugees in transit in Lebanon and after arrival in Norway.

Show author(s) (2018). Stillesitting blant syriske flyktninger i to ulike faser i migrasjonsprosessen.
Show author(s) (2018). Stillesitting blant syriske flyktninger i to ulike faser i migrasjonsprosessen.
Show author(s) (2018). Sosial støtte i en presset livssituasjon – en undersøkelse blant voksne syriske flyktninger i Libanon og Norge.

Show author(s) (2015). Managing mental health problems among immigrant women attending primary care services.

Show author(s) (2013). Use of contraceptives among immigrant and native women in Norway: Data from the Norwegian Prescription database.
Show author(s) (2013). Use of GP services for mental health problems: A comparison with Norwegians and immigrants.

Show author(s) (2007). Impact of an improved stove on women's lung health in a rural wood-using community. RESPIRE Guatemala.

Show author(s) (2006). Impact of a chimney stove on women’s lung health in a rural wood-using community: challenges in assessment and preliminary results.

Editorial

Show author(s) (2023). Migration and Health: Time for a new research agenda. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 309-311.

Show author(s) (2022). Times of migration crises, times of opportunities. Atención Primaria.

Show author(s) (2016). Shifting migrant health care away from an agenda of conflicts and problems towards solutions. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care.

Show author(s) (2012). I gang etter 40 år. Utposten.
Show author(s) (2012). And so it is Xtmas. Utposten.

Reader opinion piece

Show author(s) (2015). Innvandring fører ikke til en eksplosjon i helsekostnader. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). Del 2, s.3.

Show author(s) (2010). Overdramatisert pandemi. Brev til redaktøren. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 590.

Non-fiction book

Show author(s) (2019). Migrant Health: A Primary Care Perspective. CRC Press.

Show author(s) (2012). The Praeger Handbook of Environmental Health. Praeger.

Pandemic Centre

Through research, education, and communication, the Centre of Pandemic will generate innovative knowledge, helping society to better respond to pandemic situations.