The Impact of Refugee Shocks on Host Countries: A Scoping Review

BackgroundForced displacement impacts the health, rights and safety of women, which is further compounded by gender inequality. In particular, this has consequences for forcibly displaced women’s reproductive health once resettled in a new country. To ensure the reproductive health and rights of forcibly displaced women during and after resettlement, there must be careful consideration of their reproductive decision-making taking into account the context and environment of the host country.AimThis scoping review aimed to explore the influences on reproductive decision-making among forcibly displaced women resettling in high-income countries.MethodA scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR for reporting. EBSCO was used to search databases covering global health, health policy, psychology, sociology, and philosophy for articles published from 1 January 2012 to 27 April 2022. Data extracted from each article included author(s), year of publication, publication type, aims/objectives, study design, sampling method, data collection or eligibility criteria, study population (i.e., sample size and characteristics), migration status, country(ies) of origin, host country(ies), key findings and limitations. Two independent reviewers screened all articles against eligibility criteria using Covidence. Data charting and thematic analysis were performed independently by one reviewer.FindingsNineteen articles published between 2013 and 2022 mostly conducted in the United States (36.8%) and Australia (21.1%), with the majority reporting on qualitative findings (68.4%), and women from a wide array of countries and cultures (most commonly African countries) were included. Influences on women’s reproductive decision-making related to the contexts before displacement, during displacement, and after arrival, with influences on women’s reproductive decision-making identified specific to the context. The influences before displacement included conflict; religious beliefs; socio-cultural gendered expectations; and external control over reproductive autonomy. During displacement influences included paternalism and access to education. Influences after arrival included pressure, restriction, coercion; knowledge and misconceptions; patriarchal power dynamics; and seeking empowerment. An adapted socio-ecological model was developed to interpret the findings.ConclusionThis review highlights the complexity and nuances within forcibly displaced women’s experiences which influence their reproductive decision-making. Further research may review the evidence base to provide guidance for healthcare professionals and health policies aimed at empowering women to make autonomous reproductive decisions; develop training for healthcare professionals to prevent pressure, restriction and coercion of women’s reproductive autonomy; and inform development of policy that takes an intersectional approach to women’s health rights and gender equality.

Regdanvimab improves disease mortality and morbidity in patients with COVID-19: A meta-analysis

Science, ethics, and future of research into maternal-infant transmission of HIV-1

Background: The global immigrant population is increasing annually, and Asian immigrants have a substantial representation within the immigrant population. Due to a myriad of challenges such as acculturation, discrimination, language, and financial issues, immigrants are at high risk of mental health conditions. However, a large-scale mapping of the existing literature regarding these issues has yet to be completed. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mental health conditions, help-seeking behaviours, and factors affecting mental health service utilization among East Asian immigrants residing in Western countries. Method: This study adopted the scoping review methodology based on the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. A comprehensive database search was conducted in May 2024 in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Search terms were developed based on participants, concept, context framework. The participants were East Asian immigrants and their families, and the concept of interest was mental health help-seeking behaviours and mental health service utilization. Regarding the context, studies targeting East Asian immigrants in Western countries were included. Data were summarized narratively and presented in a tabular and word cloud format. Results: Out of 1990 studies, 31 studies were included. East Asian immigrants often face mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviours. They predominantly sought help from informal sources such as family, friends, religion, and complementary or alternative medicine, rather than from formal sources such as mental health clinics or healthcare professionals. Facilitators of seeking help included recognizing the need for professional help, experiencing severe symptoms, higher levels of acculturation, longer length of stay in the host country. Barriers included stigma, cultural beliefs, and language barriers. Conclusions: The review emphasizes the need for culturally tailored interventions to improve mental health outcomes in this vulnerable population. These results can guide future research and policymaking to address mental health disparities in immigrant communities.

More Rigor Needed in Systematic Reviews on “Waterpipe” (Hookah, Narghile, Shisha) Smoking

Health outcomes and impact of cardiovascular disease vary between populations, where ethnic minorities and immigrant groups are more likely to be disadvantaged. Compared with the majority residents, health outcomes, especially short-term mortality from coronary heart disease event are worse in people of Chinese ethnicity, potentially due to poor self-management and experiences with the healthcare system in host countries. A scoping review was conducted. Four overarching themes were found: (1) understanding of heart disease, risk factors and symptom recognition, (2) adherence to medication and lifestyle modification, (3) health service/information choice, and (4) family role in disease self-management and decision making. All themes were greatly influenced by English language proficiency and cultural practices. English language proficiency and cultural practices should be taken into consideration when providing healthcare services for people of Chinese ethnicity, as it plays an important role in self-management and experiences with the healthcare system.

Melanin has a Small Inhibitory Effect on Cutaneous Vitamin D Synthesis: A Comparison of Extreme Phenotypes

This paper aims to explore the burgeoning burden of cardiovascular and metabolic disease (CMD) risk factors among South Asian labor migrants to the Middle East. We conducted a qualitative synthesis of literature using PubMed/Medline and grey literature searches, supplemented by a policy review of policies from the South Asian countries. We found a high burden of cardio-metabolic risk factors among the migrants as well as among the populations in the home and the host countries. For example, two studies reported the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) ranging between 9 and 17% among South Asian migrants. Overweight and obesity were highly prevalent amongst South Asian male migrants; prevalence ranged from 30 to 66% (overweight) and 17–80% (obesity) respectively. The home country population had a significant CMD risk factor burden. Nearly 14 to 40% have three or more risk factors: such as hypertension (17 to 37%), diabetes (3 to 7%), overweight (18 to 41%), and obesity (2 to 15%). The host country also exhibited similar burden of risk factors: hypertension (13 to 38%), diabetes (8 to 17%), overweight (33 to 77%) and obesity (35 to 41%). Only Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have some provisions related to screening of CMDs before labor migration. Further, analysis of policy papers showed that none of the reviewed documents had requirements for screening of any specific CMDs, but chronic diseases were used generically, failing to specify specific screening target. Given the high burden of risk factors, migrants’ health should become an urgent priority. The lack of specific focus on screening during different stages of labor migration should receive attention. The International Labour Organization and the International Office for Migration, through their country coordination teams should engage local stakeholders to create policies and plans to address this concern. Similarly, there is a need for the host country to become an equal partner in these efforts, as migrant’s better cardiometabolic health is in the benefit of both host and home countries.

Health-care provision for displaced populations arriving from Ukraine

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for up to 67% of the global HIV burden yet grapples with health system challenges like distant health facilities, low doctor-to-patient ratio, and poor or non-functioning post-hospital follow-up mechanisms. The rising phone ownership and internet penetration in SSA (46% and 67%, respectively) offer an opportunity to leverage technology to address these gaps and drive toward achieving the UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS) 95-95-95 targets. We undertook a scoping review to understand how digital technologies have been integrated into HIV prevention, care, and treatment services delivery in SSA. A scoping review involving 4 databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar) was carried out, encompassing studies related to technology use in the delivery of HIV prevention, care, and treatment published from January 1, 2019, to December 30, 2023. Search terms like "telemedicine," "telehealth," "mobile health," "eHealth," "mHealth," "telecommunication," "mobile application," and "digital health," among others, were used. Of the 310 papers identified, 11 were excluded due to duplicity, 299 were from outside SSA and the intervention was not well described, and 149 were due to the year of publication and study type being a literature review or study protocols, leaving 17 papers that were considered for the review. From the 17 studies summarized, the technologies identified included social media (n=1), interactive voice response (n=1), hotlines (n=1), mobile apps (n=7), health information systems (n=2), chatbots (n=1), and SMS text messages (n=5). Adolescents (11-14 years) and youths (20-35 years) formed the majority of users. The use cases included reminders on facility events, teleconsultations, patient registration, and health information dissemination, among others. Different parameters of individual digital tools were tracked, including feasibility, usability, adoption, and impact on the desired outcome. The integration of digital technologies in health care can address the known challenges in the delivery of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services, facilitate customization of care to individual needs, and thus increase or diversify options available to patients.

ObjectiveTo review the existing evidence on the effects of viewing visual artworks on stress outcomes and outline any gaps in the research.DesignA scoping review was conducted based on the Joanna...

To map and explore primary research about factors related to retention, turnover and turnover intention among migrant nurses. Understanding retention and turnover among migrant nurses is essential, especially in the context of nursing shortage. There is a range of factors motivating nurses to emigrate; however, factors related to retention and turnover among migrant nurses in the host country are unclear. This review utilised Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for scoping reviews, and is reported with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Four electronic databases were searched-CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest and PubMed-to identify primary research published between January 2000 and May 2022. Titles and abstracts were reviewed against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then full-text versions were reviewed. Data extracted were summarised, and results synthesised. Fifteen studies were included, with studies mainly from the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States. Personal, organisational, financial, political and environmental factors were found to influence retention and turnover among migrant nurses. Retention and turnover rates among migrant nurses vary among host countries. The factors identified are related to each other; hence, retention and turnover among migrant nurses are best understood in the context of their source country, host country and individual circumstances. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY, SOCIAL POLICY, AND HEALTH POLICY: Host countries must promote strategies that foster retention, such as reviewing immigration policies to support long-term immigration and family unity. Organisations employing migrant nurses need to consider the presence of a social network to facilitate adaptation and integration. It is also recommended that source countries address the reasons for emigration and initiate policies encouraging return migration, including providing merit to overseas experience. International nursing organisations should call for an examination of the conditions of migrant nurses to ensure equality across all source countries.

Measuring the environmental impact of health interventions in randomized controlled trials - A scoping review.

IntroductionTo avoid exposure to SARS-COV-2, healthcare professionals use personal protective equipment (PPE) while treating COVID-19 patients. Prior studies have revealed the adverse effects (AEs) of PPE on healthcare workers (HCWs); however, no review has focused on the AEs of PPE on HCWs in intensive care units (ICUs). This review aimed to identify the AEs of PPE on HCWs working in ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA scoping review was conducted. MEDLINE, CINAHL, the World Health Organization (WHO) global literature on COVID-19, and Igaku-chuo-zasshi (a Japanese medical database), Google Scholar, medRxiv, and Health Research Board (HRB) open research were searched from January 25–28, 2021. The extracted data included author(s) name, year of publication, country, language, article title, journal name, publication type, study methodology, population, outcome, and key findings.ResultsThe initial search identified 691 articles and abstracts. Twenty-five articles were included in the analysis. The analysis comprised four key topics: studies focusing on PPE-related headache, voice disorders, skin manifestations, and miscellaneous AEs of PPE. The majority of AEs for HCWs in ICUs were induced by prolonged use of masks.ConclusionThe AEs of PPE among HCWs in ICUs included heat, headaches, skin injuries, chest discomfort, and dyspnea. Studies with a focus on specific diseases were on skin injuries. Moreover, many AEs were induced by prolonged use of masks.

HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: From obscurity to prominence