Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control
Published in: Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Migrant and refugee populations: a public health and policy perspective on a continuing global crisis

Authors: Mohamed Abbas, Tammam Aloudat, Javier Bartolomei, Manuel Carballo, Sophie Durieux-Paillard, Laure Gabus, Alexandra Jablonka, Yves Jackson, Kanokporn Kaojaroen, Daniel Koch, Esperanza Martinez, Marc Mendelson, Roumyana Petrova-Benedict, Sotirios Tsiodras, Derek Christie, Mirko Saam, Sally Hargreaves, Didier Pittet

Published in: Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

The 2015–2017 global migratory crisis saw unprecedented numbers of people on the move and tremendous diversity in terms of age, gender and medical requirements. This article focuses on key emerging public health issues around migrant populations and their interactions with host populations. Basic needs and rights of migrants and refugees are not always respected in regard to article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 23 of the Refugee Convention. These are populations with varying degrees of vulnerability and needs in terms of protection, security, rights, and access to healthcare. Their health status, initially conditioned by the situation at the point of origin, is often jeopardised by adverse conditions along migratory paths and in intermediate and final destination countries. Due to their condition, forcibly displaced migrants and refugees face a triple burden of non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, and mental health issues. There are specific challenges regarding chronic infectious and neglected tropical diseases, for which awareness in host countries is imperative. Health risks in terms of susceptibility to, and dissemination of, infectious diseases are not unidirectional. The response, including the humanitarian effort, whose aim is to guarantee access to basic needs (food, water and sanitation, healthcare), is gripped with numerous challenges. Evaluation of current policy shows insufficiency regarding the provision of basic needs to migrant populations, even in the countries that do the most. Governments around the world need to rise to the occasion and adopt policies that guarantee universal health coverage, for migrants and refugees, as well as host populations, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. An expert consultation was carried out in the form of a pre-conference workshop during the 4th International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 20 June 2017, the United Nations World Refugee Day.
Literature
1.
2.
Dijstelbloem H. Migration tracking is a mess. Nature. 2017;543(7643):31–3.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Burkle FM. The politics of global public health in fragile states and ungoverned territories. PLoS Currents 2017; 9: ecurrents.dis.ba3beede71ca0746a972aa3837ed618.
8.
Hayes S, Lundy BD, Hallward MC. Conflict-induced migration and the refugee crisis: global and local perspectives from Peacebuilding and development. Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. 2016;11(3):1–7.
9.
10.
World Health Organization. Office of the High Commissioner for human rights, International Organization for Migration. International migration, health and human rights. Geneva: International Organization for Migration; 2013.
11.
da Costa R. Rights of refugees in the context of integration: legal standards and recommendations. Legal and protection policy research series. In: UNHCR; 2006.
12.
Vernon A, Deriche K, Eisenhauer S. Connecting refugees. How Internet and Mobile Connectivity can Improve Refugee Well-Being and Transform Humanitarian Action. Geneva: UNHCR; 2016.
13.
Gorst-Unsworth C, Goldenberg E. Psychological sequelae of torture and organised violence suffered by refugees from Iraq. Trauma-related factors compared with social factors in exile. Br J Psychiatry. 1998;172:90–4.PubMed
14.
McColl H, Johnson S. Characteristics and needs of asylum seekers and refugees in contact with London community mental health teams - a descriptive investigation. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2006;41(10):789–95.PubMed
15.
16.
Ghebreyesus TA. All roads lead to universal health coverage. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(9):e839–e40.PubMed
17.
Abiiro GA, De Allegri M. Universal health coverage from multiple perspectives: a synthesis of conceptual literature and global debates. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2015;15:17.PubMedPubMedCentral
18.
Fajardo-Dolci G, Gutierrez JP, Garcia-Saiso S. Effective access to health services: operationalizing universal health coverage. Salud publica de Mexico. 2015;57(2):180–6.PubMed
19.
Chapman AR. Assessing the universal health coverage target in the sustainable development goals from a human rights perspective. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2016;16(1):33.PubMedPubMedCentral
20.
21.
UNICEF. A child is a child: protecting children on the move from violence. In: Abuse and exploitation; 2017.
22.
International Organization for Migration. The push and pull factors of asylum-related migration: a literature review. 2016.
23.
Newbold B, McKeary M. Investigating the diversity of Canada's refugee population and its health implications: does one size fit all? Int J Migr Health Soc Care. 2017;13(2):145–56.
24.
Kristiansen M, Razum O, Tezcan-Guntekin H, Krasnik A. Aging and health among migrants in a European perspective. Public Health Rev. 2016;37:14.
25.
Cheung SY, Phillimore J. Gender and refugee integration: a quantitative analysis of integration and social policy outcomes. J Soc Policy. 2017;46(2):211–30.
26.
Shawyer F, Enticott JC, Block AA, Cheng IH, Meadows GN. The mental health status of refugees and asylum seekers attending a refugee health clinic including comparisons with a matched sample of Australian-born residents. Bmc Psychiatry. 2017;17:76.PubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Fennelly K. The "healthy migrant" effect. Minn Med. 2007;90(3):51–3.PubMed
28.
Norredam M, Agyemang C, Hansen OKH, et al. Duration of residence and disease occurrence among refugees and family reunited immigrants: test of the 'healthy migrant effect' hypothesis. Tropical Med Int Health. 2014;19(8):958–67.
29.
Hamilton TG. The healthy immigrant (migrant) effect: in search of a better native-born comparison group. Soc Sci Res. 2015;54:353–65.PubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Rubalcava LN, Teruel GM, Thomas D, Goldman N. The healthy migrant effect: new findings from the Mexican family life survey. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(1):78–84.PubMedPubMedCentral
31.
Arsenijevic J, Schillberg E, Ponthieu A, et al. A crisis of protection and safe passage: violence experienced by migrants/refugees travelling along the Western Balkan corridor to northern Europe. Confl Heal. 2017:11.
32.
Crepet A, Rita F, Reid A, et al. Mental health and trauma in asylum seekers landing in Sicily in 2015: a descriptive study of neglected invisible wounds. Confl Heal. 2017:11.
33.
Keygnaert I, Dialmy A, Manco A, et al. Sexual violence and sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco: a community-based participatory assessment using respondent driven sampling. Glob Health. 2014:10.
34.
Esposito F, Ornelas J, Arcidiacono C. Migration-related detention centers: the challenges of an ecological perspective with a focus on justice. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2015;15.
35.
36.
37.
Aebi MF, Tiago MM, Burkhardt C. SPACE I – Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics: prison populations. Survey 2015. Strasbourg: Council of Europe; 2016.
38.
Kazi AM, Shah SA, Jenkins CA, Shepherd BE, Vermund SH. Risk factors and prevalence of tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus among prisoners in Pakistan. Int J Infect Dis. 2010;14:E60–E6.PubMed
39.
Kamarulzaman A, Reid SE, Schwitters A, et al. Prevention of transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in prisoners. Lancet. 2016;388(10049):1115–26.PubMed
40.
International Organization for Migration. Summary report on the MIPEX health Strand and country reports. Geneva: International Organization for Migration; 2016.
41.
Singer M, Bulled N, Ostrach B, Mendenhall E. Syndemics and the biosocial conception of health. Lancet. 2017;389(10072):941–50.PubMed
42.
Rechel B, Mladovsky P, Devillé W, Rijks B, Petrova-Benedict R, McKee M. Migration and health in European Union. Maidenhead: McGraw Hill/Open University Press; 2011.
43.
Bogic M, Ajdukovic D, Bremner S, et al. Factors associated with mental disorders in long-settled war refugees: refugees from the former Yugoslavia in Germany, Italy and the UK. Br J Psychiatry. 2012;200(3):216–23.PubMed
44.
Gerritsen AAM, Bramsen I, Deville W, van Willigen LHM, Hovens JE, van der Ploeg HM. Physical and mental health of afghan, Iranian and Somali asylum seekers and refugees living in the Netherlands. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2006;41(1):18–26.PubMed
45.
Fazel M, Wheeler J, Danesh J. Prevalence of serious mental disorder in 7000 refugees resettled in western countries: a systematic review. Lancet. 2005;365(9467):1309–14.PubMed
46.
Coughlin SS. Anxiety and Depression: Linkages with Viral Diseases. Public Health Rev. 2012;34(2):92.
47.
Doocy S, Lyles E, Roberton T, Akhu-Zaheya L, Oweis A, Burnham G. Prevalence and care-seeking for chronic diseases among Syrian refugees in Jordan. BMC Public Health. 2015;15.
48.
Chauvin P, Parizot I, Simmonot N. L’accès aux soins de personnes sans autorisation de séjour dans 11 pays d’Europe. Paris: Observatoire Européen de l’accès aux soins de Médecins du Monde; 2009.
49.
Turktan M, Ak O, Erdem H, et al. Community acquired infections among refugees leading to intensive care unit admissions in Turkey. Int J Infect Dis. 2017;58:111–4.PubMed
50.
Jackson Y, Paignon A, Wolff H, Delicado N. Health of undocumented migrants in primary care in Switzerland. PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0201313.PubMedPubMedCentral
51.
Monge-Maillo B, Lopez-Velez R, Norman FF, Ferrere-Gonzalez F, Martinez-Perez A, Perez-Molina JA. Screening of imported infectious diseases among asymptomatic sub-Saharan African and Latin American immigrants: a public health challenge. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015;92(4):848–56.PubMedPubMedCentral
52.
Errecaborde KM, Stauffer W, Cetron M. Neglected Tropical Disease Control and Elimination: Is Human Displacement an Achilles Heel. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9(3):e0003535.PubMedPubMedCentral
53.
Mbabazi PS, Andan O, Fitzgerald DW, Chitsulo L, Engels D, Downs J. Examining the relationship between urogenital schistosomiasis and HIV infection. Tropical Med Int Health. 2013;18:55–6.
54.
Kamal SM, Turner B, He Q, et al. Progression of fibrosis in hepatitis C with and without schistosomiasis: correlation with serum markers of fibrosis. Hepatology. 2006;43(4):771–9.PubMed
55.
Siegel MO, Simon GL. Is Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection a Risk Factor for Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection and Dissemination. Plos Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6(7):e1581.PubMedPubMedCentral
56.
Sartori AMC, Ibrahim KY, Westphalen EVN, et al. Manifestations of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in patients with HIVAIDS. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2007;101(1):31–50.PubMed
57.
Tornesello ML, Giorgi Rossi P, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM. Group HPVPIW. Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Neoplasia among Migrant Women Living in Italy. Frontiers in oncology. 2014;4:31.PubMedPubMedCentral
58.
Carballo M, Maclean E, Gudumac I. Van Damme P. Hepatitis C and Migration: A Public Health Challenge. J Fam Med. 2016;3(4):1065.
59.
Ackermann N, Marosevic D, Hormansdorfer S, et al. Screening for infectious diseases among newly arrived asylum seekers, Bavaria, Germany, 2015. Euro Surveill. 2018;23(10):17–00176.
60.
Bil JP, Schrooders PA, Prins M, et al. Integrating hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV screening into tuberculosis entry screening for migrants in the Netherlands, 2013 to 2015. Eurosurveillance. 2018;23(11):17–00491.PubMedPubMedCentral
61.
Ravensbergen SJ, Berends M, Stienstra Y, Ott A. High prevalence of MRSA and ESBL among asylum seekers in the Netherlands. PLoS One 2017; 12(4):e0176481.PubMedPubMedCentral
62.
Seedat F, Hargreaves S, Nellums LB, Ouyang J, Brown M, Friedland JS. How effective are approaches to migrant screening for infectious diseases in Europe? A systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(9):e259–e71.PubMed
63.
Murcia L, Simon M, Carrilero B, Roig M, Segovia M. Treatment of infected women of childbearing age prevents congenital Trypanosoma cruzi infection by eliminating the Parasitemia detected by PCR. J Infect Dis. 2017;215(9):1452–8.PubMed
64.
Sicuri E, Munoz J, Pinazo MJ, et al. Economic evaluation of Chagas disease screening of pregnant Latin American women and of their infants in a non endemic area. Acta Trop. 2011;118(2):110–7.PubMed
65.
Nakken CS, Skovdal M, Nellums LB, Friedland JS, Hargreaves S, Norredam M. Vaccination status and needs of asylum-seeking children in Denmark: a retrospective data analysis. Public Health. 2018;158:110–6.PubMed
66.
Paxton GA, Rice J, Davie G, Carapetis JR, Skull SA. East African immigrant children in Australia have poor immunisation coverage. J Paediatr Child Health. 2011;47(12):888–92.PubMed
67.
de Monleon JV, Regnier F, Ajana F, et al. catch-up vaccination of worldwide newcoming (adopted, refugee or migrant) children in France. Arch Pediatr. 2014;21(3):329–34.PubMed
68.
Jablonka A, Happle C, Wetzke M, et al. Measles, rubella and varicella IgG Seroprevalence in a large refugee cohort in Germany in 2015: a cross-sectional study. Infect Dis Ther. 2017;6(4):487–96.PubMedPubMedCentral
69.
Mipatrini D, Stefanelli P, Severoni S, Rezza G. Vaccinations in migrants and refugees: a challenge for European health systems. A systematic review of current scientific evidence. Pathog Glob Health. 2017;111(2):59–68.PubMedPubMedCentral
70.
Jones G, Haeghebaert S, Merlin B, et al. Measles outbreak in a refugee settlement in Calais, France: January to February 2016. Euro Surveill. 2016;21(11):30167.PubMed
71.
Lesens O, Baud O, Henquell C, Lhermet Nurse A, Beytout J. Varicella outbreak in Sudanese refugees from Calais. J Travel Med. 2016;23(5):042.
72.
Mellou K, Chrisostomou A, Sideroglou T, et al. Hepatitis a among refugees, asylum seekers and migrants living in hosting facilities, Greece, April to 2016. Euro Surveill. 2017;22(4):30448.
73.
74.
75.
Hargreaves S, Nellums LB, Ramsay M, et al. Who is responsible for the vaccination of migrants in Europe. Lancet. 2018;391(10132):1752–4.PubMed
76.
Giambi C, Del Manso M, Dente MG, et al. Immunization Strategies Targeting Newly Arrived Migrants in Non-EU Countries of the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017;14(5):E459.PubMedPubMedCentral
77.
Ginsburg AS, Klugman KP. Vaccination to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(12):e1176–e7.PubMed
78.
Kumar S. Reduction in antimicrobial resistance by the way of extensive vaccination. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2018:1–2.
79.
Tagliabue A, Rappuoli R. Changing priorities in Vaccinology: antibiotic resistance moving to the top. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1068.PubMedPubMedCentral
80.
Jansen KU, Knirsch C, Anderson AS. The role of vaccines in preventing bacterial antimicrobial resistance. Nat Med. 2018;24(1):10–9.PubMed
81.
Atkins KE, Lafferty EI, Deeny SR, Davies NG, Robotham JV, Jit M. Use of mathematical modelling to assess the impact of vaccines on antibiotic resistance. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(6):e204–e13.PubMed
82.
83.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Infectious diseases of specific relevance to newly-arrived migrants in EU/EEA. Stockholm: ECDC; 2015.
84.
85.
Nellums L, Hargreaves S, Thompson H, Friedland JS. Antimicrobial resistance in migrants to Europe. Vienna: European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; 2017.
86.
de Smalen AW, Ghorab H, Abd El Ghany M, Hill-Cawthorne GA. Refugees and antimicrobial resistance: a systematic review. Travel Med Infect Dis 2017; 15: 23–28.
87.
Nellums LB, Thompson H, Holmes A, et al. Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(7):796–811.PubMedPubMedCentral
88.
Hargreaves S, Lonnroth K, Nellums LB, et al. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and migration to Europe. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2017;23(3):141–6.PubMed
89.
Trovato A, Reid A, Takarinda KC, et al. Dangerous crossing: demographic and clinical features of rescued sea migrants seen in 2014 at an outpatient clinic at Augusta Harbor, Italy. Confl Health. 2016;10:14.PubMedPubMedCentral
90.
Briody C, Rubenstein L, Roberts L, Penney E, Keenan W, Horbar J. Review of attacks on health care facilities in six conflicts of the past three decades. Confl Health. 2018;12:19.PubMedPubMedCentral
91.
Fouad FM, Sparrow A, Tarakji A, et al. Health workers and the weaponisation of health care in Syria: a preliminary inquiry for the lancet-American University of Beirut Commission on Syria. Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2516–26.PubMed
92.
Health care in danger. Violent incidents affecting the delivery of health care. January 2012 to December 2013: International Committee of the Red Cross, 2014.
93.
Huddleston T, Bilgili O, Joki A-L, Vankova Z. Migrant integration policy index 2015. 2015.
94.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNHCR Position on the Return of Asylum-Seekers to Greece Under the “Dublin Regulation”. Geneva: UNHCR; 2008.
95.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNHCR Comments on The European Commission Proposal for a Recast Dublin Regulation. Geneva: UNHCR; 2016.
96.
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Resolution 2072 (2015). Strasbourg: Council of Europe; 2015.
97.
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Resolution 2000 (2014). Strasbourg: Council of Europe; 2014.
98.
New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. New York: United Nations, 2016.
99.
100.
Hargreaves S. Europe's migrants face unacceptable humanitarian situation. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016;16(1):27–8.PubMed
101.
Carballo M, Hargreaves S, Gudumac I, Maclean EC. Evolving migrant crisis in Europe: implications for health systems. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(3):e252–e3.PubMed
102.
Afkhami AA. Can academic medicine Lead the way in the refugee crisis? Acad Med. 2016;91(12):1595–7.PubMed
103.
104.
Hanefeld J, Vearey J, Lunt N. Researchers migration M. a global research agenda on migration, mobility, and health. Lancet. 2017;389(10087):2358–9.PubMed
105.
Bozorgmehr K, Razum O. Effect of restricting access to health care on health expenditures among asylum-seekers and refugees: a quasi-experimental study in Germany, 1994–2013. PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0131483.PubMedPubMedCentral
106.
Tan TM, Spiegel P, Haskew C, Greenough PG. Does spending on refugees make a difference? A cross-sectional study of the association between refugee program spending and health outcomes in 70 sites in 17 countries. Confl Health. 2016;10:28.PubMedPubMedCentral
107.
Ingleby D, Petrova-Benedict R. Recommendations on access to health services for migrants in an irregular situation: an expert consensus. Brussels: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Office Brussels, Migration Health Division; 2016.
108.
World Bank. Migration and development brief, 27 April 2017. 2017.
109.
Fromentin V. The long-run and short-run impacts of remittances on financial development in developing countries. 2017.
110.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Labour market integration of immigrants and their children: developing, activating and using skills. In: International migration outlook, vol. 2014. Paris: OECD Publishing; 2014.
111.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). How can migrants’ skills be put to use? Migration Policy Debates, 2014. Access 01.10.2017).
112.
Macchiavello M. Forced migrants as an under-utilized asset: refugee skills, livelihoods, and achievements in Kampala, Uganda. Working paper no. 95. Geneva: UNHCR; 2003.
113.
114.
115.
Metadata
Title
Migrant and refugee populations: a public health and policy perspective on a continuing global crisis
Authors
Mohamed Abbas
Tammam Aloudat
Javier Bartolomei
Manuel Carballo
Sophie Durieux-Paillard
Laure Gabus
Alexandra Jablonka
Yves Jackson
Kanokporn Kaojaroen
Daniel Koch
Esperanza Martinez
Marc Mendelson
Roumyana Petrova-Benedict
Sotirios Tsiodras
Derek Christie
Mirko Saam
Sally Hargreaves
Didier Pittet
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2047-2994
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-018-0403-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research

Characteristics of the antibiotic regimen that affect antimicrobial resistance in urinary pathogens

Research

Characteristics of glycopeptide-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from inpatients of three teaching hospitals in Warsaw, Poland

Letter to the Editor

Sick pets as potential reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Singapore

Research

Antibiotic use in a tertiary healthcare facility in Ghana: a point prevalence survey

Research

Endemic carbapenem-nonsusceptible Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex in intensive care units of the national referral hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia

Research

Drug resistant tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia: an analysis of surveillance data 2014–2015

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch now

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits