Migrant Health Country Profile tool (MHCP-t) for transforming health data collection and surveillance in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region: tool development protocol with embedded process evaluation.

Introduction: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is characterised by major health disparities and complex migration flows. Yet, because of a lack of epidemiological data, there is an urgent need to strengthen routine data collection around migrant health and to define key indicators towards migrant health monitoring. To address this problem, we aim to design and pilot test the Migrant Health Country Profile tool (MHCP-t) which can collate country-level data collection around migration health data, policies and healthcare provision.

COVID-19 among migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons: systematic review, meta-analysis and qualitative synthesis of the global empirical literature.

Background: Evidence amounted early that migrants, who are often side-lined in pandemic response or preparedness plans, are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. However, synthesised evidence that quantifies the magnitude of inequalities in infection risk, disease outcomes, consequences of pandemic measures or that explains the underlying mechanisms is lacking.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review searching 25 databases and grey literature (12/2019 to 09/2023) and considered empirical articles covering migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons reporting COVID-19 cases, hospitalisation, ICU admission, mortality, COVID-19 vaccination rates or health consequences of pandemic measures.

Priority setting and migration health policies for European countries.

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda has committed to 'ensuring that no one is left behind'. Applying the right to health of non-citizens and international migrants is challenging in today's highly polarized political discourse on migration governance and integration. We explore the role of a priority setting approach to help support better, fairer and more transparent policy making in migration health.

Expert consensus on a protocol for conducting bibliometric analysis of scientific articles on global migration health (GMH).

Background: Migration and health are key priorities in global health and essential for protecting and promoting the health of migrants. To better understand the existing evidence on migration health, it is critical to map the research publication activity and evidence on the health of migrants and mobile populations. This paper presents a search strategy protocol for a bibliometric analysis of scientific articles on global migration health (GMH), leveraging the expertise of a global network of researchers and academics.

Bridging the gap: Using CHNRI to align migration health research priorities in India with local expertise and global perspectives.

Background: Migration and health are increasingly recognised as a global public health priority, but concerns have been raised on the skewed nature of current research and the potential disconnect between health needs and policy and governance responses. The Migration Health South Asia (MiHSA) network led the first systematic research priority-setting exercise for India, aligned with the global call to develop a clearly defined migration health research agenda that will inform research investments and guide migrant-responsive policies by the year 2030.

Methods: We adapted the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method for this priority setting exercise for migration health.

Integration of migrant and refugee data in health information systems in Europe: advancing evidence, policy and practice.

Unlabelled: Coverage of migrant and refugee data is incomplete and of insufficient quality in European health information systems. This is not because we lack the knowledge or technology. Rather, it is due to various political factors at local, national and European levels, which hinder the implementation of existing knowledge and guidelines.

Management of health information of nepalese labour migrants.

Introduction: The monitoring and improvement of the health of labour migrants (LMs) require sufficient health data to be recorded and managed. In this context, this study was conducted to explore the management of health information of Nepalese labour migrants (NLMs).

Methods: This is an explorative qualitative study.

Health problems of nepalese labor migrants: A scoping review.

Labor migrants (LMs) often work in precarious work environments and are exposed to various health risks. There is a lack of information on the health of international Nepalese LMs (NLMs). This scoping study was conducted to assess the health problems of international NLMs based on the six-stage scoping review process of Arksey and O'Malley.

Examining post-conflict stressors in northern Sri Lanka: A qualitative study.

Forcibly displaced individuals typically encounter daily stressors, which can negatively impact mental health above and beyond direct exposure to war-related violence, trauma and loss. Understanding the perspectives of war affected communities regarding daily stressors can enhance the integration of mental health into local primary care. The aim of the current study was to explore how daily stressors are conceptualized in a post-conflict setting.

Immunisation status of UK-bound refugees between January, 2018, and October, 2019: a retrospective, population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: WHO's new Immunization Agenda 2030 places a focus on ensuring migrants and other marginalised groups are offered catch-up vaccinations across the life-course. Yet, it is not known to what extent specific groups, such as refugees, are immunised according to host country schedules, and the implications for policy and practice. We aimed to assess the immunisation coverage of UK-bound refugees undergoing International Organization for Migration (IOM) health assessments through UK resettlement schemes, and calculate risk factors for under-immunisation.

Health and illness in migrants and refugees arriving in Europe: analysis of the electronic Personal Health Record system.

Background: The electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR) is a health information system that registers health data on newly arriving migrants and was implemented in eight European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia). This is a cross-sectional study aimed to describe the health problems and health status of all migrants attended at health clinics as part of the health assessment programme established in the reception centres (2016-2019).

Methods: Data were collected on demographics, clinical and laboratory findings and diagnostics performed, including medical records.

When husband migrate: effects of international migration of husbands on fetal outcomes, body mass index and gestational weight of female spouses that stay behind.

Background: International labour migration continues to be an integral component in Sri Lanka's economic development. Previous research indicates an adverse perinatal outcome in association with low maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (PBMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG). However, evidence of this association is limited in migrant families.

International migration of unaccompanied minors: trends, health risks, and legal protection.

The global population of unaccompanied minors-children and adolescents younger than 18 years who migrate without their legal guardians-is increasing. However, as data are not systematically collected in any region, if collected at all, little is known about this diverse group of young people. Compared with adult migrants, unaccompanied minors are at greater risk of harm to their health and integrity because they do not have the protection provided by a family, which can affect their short-term and long-term health.

Adopting an ethical approach to migration health policy, practice and research.

Migration health is affected by decision making at levels ranging from global to local, both within and beyond the health sector. These decisions impact seeking, entitlements, service delivery, policy making and knowledge production on migration health. It is key that ethical challenges faced by decision makers are recognised and addressed in research and data, clinical practice and policy making on migration health.

Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As COVID-19 vaccine roll-out begins in the MENA region, ensuring that migrant populations have equitable access to the vaccine, designing innovative and specific mechanisms for vaccine roll-out in these areas and monitoring vaccine uptake in migrant groups are now imminent challenges.

Is being a 'left-behind' child associated with an increased risk of self-poisoning in adulthood? Findings from a case-control study in Sri Lanka.

Purpose: The long-term consequences of parental emigration on offspring self-harm risk is unknown.

Methods: We investigated the association between experiencing parental emigration in childhood with hospital presentations for self-poisoning in adulthood using a hospital case-control study. Cases were adult self-poisoning patients (≥18 year olds) admitted to the medical toxicology ward Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Accessing health services in India: experiences of seasonal migrants returning to Nepal.

Background: Migration to India is a common livelihood strategy for poor people in remote Western Nepal. To date, little research has explored the degree and nature of healthcare access among Nepali migrant workers in India. This study explores the experiences of returnee Nepali migrants with regard to accessing healthcare and the perspectives of stakeholders in the government, support organizations, and health providers working with migrant workers in India.

Migration health research and policy in south and south-east Asia: mapping the gaps and advancing a collaborative agenda.

Migrant health has been the subject of various international agreements in recent years. In parallel, there has been a growth in academic research in this area. However, this increase in focus at international level has not necessarily strengthened the capacity to drive evidence-informed national policy and action in many low- and middle-income countries.

Migrant and refugee health: Complex health associations among diverse contexts call for tailored and rights-based solutions.

In an Editorial, Guest Editors Paul Spiegel, Terry McGovern and Kol Wickramage discuss the Special Issue on Refugee and Migrant Health.

Airport Entry and Exit Screening during the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Sierra Leone, 2014 to 2016.

We present entry and exit screening outcomes on all persons passing through Freetown International Airport (FNA) in Sierra Leone during the period 1 September 2014 to 4 February 2016. A total of 166,242 persons underwent screening for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at FNA. Five persons were denied air travel from Sierra Leone after secondary screening.