Anita E Heywood1, Francesco Castelli2,3, Christina Greenaway4,5,6. 1. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia. a.heywood@unsw.edu.au. 2. University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy. 3. UNESCO Chair "Training and empowering human resources for health development in resource-limited countries", University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. 4. Division of Infectious Diseases, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 5. Centre for Clinical Epidemiology of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. 6. JD MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases at McGill, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: International migration is a global phenomenon that is growing in scope, complexity and impact. The inaugural International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) International Conference on Migration Health provided a forum to discuss scientific evidence on the broad issues relevant to migration health. This review summarises the key health issues, with a focus on infectious diseases, current effective strategies and future considerations presented at this forum and in the recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Migrants face health disparities for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Their heightened infectious disease risks, compared to host populations, are related to pre-migration exposures, the circumstances of the migration journey and the receptivity and access to health services in their receiving countries. While the prevalence of infectious diseases identified through screening programmes are generally low, delays in diagnosis and treatment for a range of treatable infectious diseases result in higher morbidity and mortality among migrants. Barriers to care in host countries occur at the patient, provider and health systems levels. Coordinated and inclusive health services, healthcare systems and health policies, responsive to patient diversity reduce these barriers. Structural barriers to healthcare provision impede equitable care to migrants and refugees. Public health and medical professionals have a role in advocating for policy reforms.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: International migration is a global phenomenon that is growing in scope, complexity and impact. The inaugural International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) International Conference on Migration Health provided a forum to discuss scientific evidence on the broad issues relevant to migration health. This review summarises the key health issues, with a focus on infectious diseases, current effective strategies and future considerations presented at this forum and in the recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Migrants face health disparities for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Their heightened infectious disease risks, compared to host populations, are related to pre-migration exposures, the circumstances of the migration journey and the receptivity and access to health services in their receiving countries. While the prevalence of infectious diseases identified through screening programmes are generally low, delays in diagnosis and treatment for a range of treatable infectious diseases result in higher morbidity and mortality among migrants. Barriers to care in host countries occur at the patient, provider and health systems levels. Coordinated and inclusive health services, healthcare systems and health policies, responsive to patient diversity reduce these barriers. Structural barriers to healthcare provision impede equitable care to migrants and refugees. Public health and medical professionals have a role in advocating for policy reforms.
Entities:
Keywords:
Immigrant; Infectious diseases; Migration; Migration health; Screening; Travel health
Authors: Aldo Rosano; Marie Dauvrin; Sandra C Buttigieg; Elena Ronda; Jean Tafforeau; Sonia Dias Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-08-23 Impact factor: 2.655