Begging abroad in Sweden: An interview study

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant characteristics (n = 20).

Participants
Gender
Men n	12
Women n	8
Age (in year)
Min-max	19–64
Mean (SD)	33 (11)
Median	30
Education (in year)
Min-max	0–13
Mean	6
Median	6
Previous visits to Sweden (n)
0–4	10
5–8	7
9–	1

Table 2. Example of the analysis.

Meaning unit	Condensed meaning unit	Code	Subcategory	Category	Main category
I wait for people to come and give me money. I: Are you there from when you arrive until you leave, or do you take walks or eat something? [I] only [leave the place] when I need to go to the toilet. People give me food and I sit there until eight in the evening.	Waits for people to give, sits until evening	Long days	Spending many and long days is necessary	Endurance is required to make a living	A hard time abroad to improve one’s life
There are young people who want to talk to me when I’m sitting, but I bow my head because I feel ashamed and don’t want to talk.	I bow my head because I feel ashamed	Shameful to beg	Begging is demanding	-II-	-II-

Table 3. The categories identified.

Sub-categories	Categories	Main category
Spending many and long days is necessary	Endurance is required to make a living	A hard time abroad to improve one’s life
Begging is demanding
Help and good relationships but also harassment	Exposed to others’ attitude and kindness
Threat of insufficient collection
Living with the longing	Handling being away
Continuing engagement from a distance
Reality intrudes
Supporting everyday needs	A better life is the driving force
Long-term improvement for the children
Building a better future
The importance of resources