Foreign-born Migrants Research Articles

Scoping Review on Barriers and Challenges to Pediatric Immunization Uptake among Migrants: Health Inequalities in Italy, 2003 to Mid-2023.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, asylum seekers, refugees, and foreign-born migrants are more likely to suffer from physical, mental, and socioeconomic consequences owing to their existing vulnerabilities and worsening conditions in refugee camps around the world. In this scenario, the education of migrants and newcomers about immunization is critical to achieving health equity worldwide. Globally, it is unclear whether government vaccination policies are prioritizing the health information needs of migrants. We searched for studies investigating the vaccination uptake of migrant children settled in Italy that were published between January 2003 and 25 June 2023. Following Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage method for scoping reviews, all potentially relevant literature published in English was retrieved from SciSearch, Medline, and Embase. This search resulted in 88 research articles, 25 of which met our inclusion criteria. Our findings indicate unequal access to vaccination due to a lack of available information in the native language of the immigrants' country of origin, vaccine safety concerns or lack of awareness, logistical difficulties, and fear of legal consequences. The findings strongly encourage further government and political discourse to ensure migrants have fair, equitable, ethical, and timely access to essential medicines.

Assessing the migrant mortality advantage among foreign-born and interprovincial migrants in Manitoba, Canada

ObjectivesStudies on mortality differentials between international immigrants and non-immigrants produced mixed results. The mortality of interprovincial migrants has been less studied. Our objectives were to compare mortality risk between international immigrants, interprovincial migrants, and long-term residents of the province of Manitoba, Canada, and identify factors associated with mortality among migrants.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective matched-cohort study to examine all-cause and premature mortality of 355,194 international immigrants, interprovincial migrants, and long-term Manitoba residents (118,398 in each group) between January 1985 and March 2019 using linked administrative databases. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe all-cause mortality risk of international immigrants (2.3 per 1000 person-years) and interprovincial migrants (4.4 per 1000) was lower than that of long-term Manitobans (5.6 per 1000) (aIRR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.45 and aIRR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.84, respectively). Compared with interprovincial migrants, international immigrants showed lower death risk (aIRR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.52). Similar trends were observed for premature mortality. Among international immigrants, higher mortality risk was observed for refugees, those from North America and Oceania, and those of low educational attainment. Among internal migrants, those from Eastern Canada had lower mortality risk than those migrating from Ontario and Western Canada.ConclusionMigrants had a mortality advantage over non-migrants, being stronger for international immigrants than for interprovincial migrants. Among the two migrant groups, there was heterogeneity in the mortality risk according to migrants’ characteristics.

Educational selectivity of native and foreign-born internal migrants in Europe

It is well-established that internal migration is selective, particularly with respect to age, educational attainment, and nativity status. However, the interplay between education and immigrants’ origin remains largely unknown. Thus, it is unclear how the

HIV prevalence ratio of international migrants compared to their native-born counterparts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

SummaryBackgroundPeople on the move, including international migrants, may face health inequities that expose them to a higher risk for HIV than native-born populations. We conducted a systematic review to calculate the HIV prevalence ratio of international migrants compared with native-born populations.MethodsWe searched five databases between January 2010 and March 2022. Using random-effects meta-analysis, we calculated the pooled HIV prevalence ratios (PR) by comparing the HIV prevalence of migrants with native-born populations. Our research protocol is registered in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42021250867).FindingsIn total, 5,121 studies were screened, and 38 were included in the final analysis: 7,121,699 migrants and more than 270 million natives were included in the analysis. The pooled PR for any foreign-born migrants was 1·70 (95% CI 1·11 – 2·61, I2=99·67%, n = 33 studies), refugees was 2·37 (95% CI 0·33–16·99, I2=99·5%, n = 5), undocumented people was 3·98 (95% CI 0·11–143·01, I2=94·6%, n = 3), whilst asylum seekers was 54·79 (95% CI 17·23–174·23, I2=90·2%, n = 2). Meta-regression revealed that population type (adjusted R-squared 11.5%), region of origin (11.3%) and migrant type (10.8%) accounted for heterogeneity more than country-income (2.4%) and study setting (2.3%).InterpretationAlthough it was not possible to assess if HIV infection occurred in the country of origin or destination, the HIV prevalence ratio was higher among migrants than in native-born populations. Inclusive health policies and strategies for delivering HIV testing, prevention and treatment services for migrant populations tailored to their needs are urgently needed.FundingJ.J.O. and E.P.F.C. are supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Emerging Leader Fellowship (GNT1193955 and GNT1172873, respectively).

Long-acting reversible contraception and satisfaction with structured contraceptive counselling among non-migrant, foreign-born migrant and second-generation migrant women: evidence from a cluster randomised controlled trial (the LOWE trial) in Sweden

ObjectiveThis trial aimed to evaluate effects of structured contraceptive counselling among non-migrants, foreign-born migrants and second-generation migrants.MethodsA cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 2017–2019 at abortion, youth and maternal...

Wage discrimination based on the country of birth: do tenure and product market competition matter?

ABSTRACT Using a merged employer-employee panel dataset of more than 13,000 firms relative to the Belgian private sector for the 1999–2010 period, this paper aims to quantify wage discrimination against migrant workers based on their countries of birth, with workers’ tenure and firm product market competition as moderating variables. To do so, we specify a wage-setting equation that includes a direct measure of worker productivity. We control for a wide range of worker and firm characteristics, as well as time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity in firms and potential endogeneity in the composition of the workforce. Our results show large disparities in wage discrimination against foreign-born migrants depending on their countries of birth. They also suggest that wage discrimination against migrants vanishes as their firm-specific labour market experience (i.e. tenure) increases and tends to disappear in highly competitive product market situations.

Mental Health in Immigrant Children and Adolescents in Northern Chile Mental Health in Immigrant Children and Adolescents.

Approximately 1.251.225 foreign-born migrants reside in Chile, including 183.315 children. This study compares mental health indicators in immigrant and non-immigrant children to understand the mental health effects of migration. A cross-sectional study of 634 students from Chilean schools was conducted. Fifty percent of the students were immigrants. The System for the Evaluation of Children and Adolescents was used to evaluate mental health. No significant differences were observed in mental health indicators between immigrant and non-immigrant children. At both elementary and secondary levels, immigrant students had higher rates of contextual problems (family problems and problems with peers) and lower scores in integration and social consequence. Immigrant students in elementary schools scored lower in self-esteem. The higher rates of contextual problems in immigrant children should be addressed through structural changes in migration policies, such as providing support for employment of parents, welfare assistance, and access to health systems.

Voluntary and Forced Migrants in Forensic Mental Health Care

Foreign-born migrants are at elevated risk for developing serious forms of mental illness, and are over-represented in criminal justice and forensic mental health settings. This study compares the clinical characteristics of forced (n = 60) and voluntary (n = 226) migrant patients in a Canadian forensic service to native-born patients (n = 234), and contrasts regions of birth represented in the current sample to the total adult migrant population in our catchment city (N = 2,537,410). Compared to Canadian-born patients, migrant patients were more likely to have a later-onset psychotic disorder as their only diagnosis, and less likely to have a personality disorder diagnosis. Migrant patients had more familial supports prior to illness onset, but were socially isolated near the time of forensic admission. Compared to the total adult migrant population, higher proportions of Caribbean, Central American, Eastern and Western African persons were represented in the forensic system, while fewer individuals from East and South Asia were represented. There was no effect of migrancy status on the duration of forensic hospitalization or community supervision. Findings suggest disproportionate minority representation among users of forensic services, and highlight what may be ineffective pathways to adequate mental health care among certain migrant groups.

Population and Economic Cycles in the Main Spanish Urban Areas: The Migratory Component

The paper aims to analyse how the different economic phases that Spain has experienced in the first two decades of the 21st century (expansion, recession, and recovery) have influenced population stocks and migratory flows in the five largest metropolitan areas defined as Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) in Spain: Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Seville and Valencia. Using Padrón Continuo (municipal registers) and Estadística de Variaciones Residenciales (residential change statistics) as data sources, both native and immigrant – i.e. born abroad – stocks, and internal and international migration flows are analysed. We study differences between (a) diverse groups of foreigners (by continental origin), also comparing them to natives; and (b) different types of residential mobility by migrants’ previous place of residence: “intrametropolitan” movements (between urban cores and peripheries), migration flows between the five urban areas and the rest of Spain, and international migration.
 Results show that intrametropolitan migration flows between the five urban cores and their peripheries were characterised by suburbanisation during the expansion phase. These flows were particularly relevant for Spanish-born persons and, among foreign-born migrants, for people born in the Americas (mainly Latin Americans). These flows to the suburban periphery decreased during the economic crisis, and in 2013 and 2014 net intrametropolitan migration of most foreign groups was characterised by recentralisation. Spaniards’ intrametropolitan movements almost reached equilibrium during the recession years: Natives decreased their moves from cores to rings, while they were increasingly attracted to urban centres. Owing to the incipient economic recovery, suburbanisation is progressively recovering its previous strength. As for other types of residential moves, foreign-born migrants moving from abroad and the rest of Spain to the five FUAs during the economic expansion phase reversed the direction of their flows in the economic crisis years, migrating abroad or dispersing throughout Spain in search of jobs. Consequently, their stocks declined in some years. Currently, due to the incipient economic recovery, the five FUAs are attracting internal and international foreign-born immigrants once again, so their foreign-born population stocks are increasing in both cores and peripheries. Spaniards show the opposite behaviour regarding flows to and from the five areas analysed – they tended to disperse throughout the rest of Spain during the economic expansion phase. This trend continued during the crisis years, but at a slower pace, as natives became increasingly attracted to urban cores. Furthermore, this latter trend has strengthened during the post-crisis years. Finally, considering foreign-born and Spanish populations together, large urban areas are increasingly attractive. This global tendency is to the detriment of rural areas and of non-metropolitan small and medium size towns, which lose population due to negative net migration.
 * This article belongs to a special issue on “Internal Migration as a Driver of Regional Population Change in Europe: Updating Ravenstein”.

Historical Roots of Chicago’s Contemporary Violence: An Interpretation of Chicago’s Early Sociologists’ Texts on Black Assimilation

Early 20th-century Chicago witnessed an in-migration of foreign-born immigrants and Black American migrants fleeing slavery. As the Black Americans’ population increased and dispersed across urban neighborhoods, Whites’ anti-Black aggression and violence intensified. This article outlines the mechanisms that account for this discord through an examination of sociological texts. We propose that, first, contemporary racial discord has diachronic origins; second, 21st-century synchronic analysis of racial discord, absent of historical insight, cannot adequately account for a century of racial violence by attributing it to poverty and employment going overseas; and, third, a century of racism cannot be mitigated by replacing personnel in administrative agencies, retraining law enforcement personnel, and tightening police oversight. Mitigation of systemic law enforcement violence toward Black Americans must first recognize the contemporary effects of the history of law enforcement agencies’ institutionalized racism documented by sociologists a century ago. A synchronic account of the origin of that racism lays deeply buried in the intellectual history of early 20th-century social science when decades of social researchers misinterpreted the influence of culture and biology on racial behavior.

Wage Discrimination Based on the Country of Birth: Do Tenure and Product Market Competition Matter?

Using a merged employer-employee panel dataset of 13,000 firms for the 1999-2010 period, this paper aims to quantify wage discrimination against migrant workers based on their countries of birth, with workers' tenure and firm product market competition as moderator variables. To do so, we specify a wage-setting equation A la Bartolucci (2014) that includes a direct measure of worker productivity. We control for a wide range of worker and firm characteristics, as well as time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity in firms and potential endogeneity in the composition of the workforce. Our preferred results estimate that wage discrimination against non-EU15 workers in Belgium is in the order of 6.1%. This figure hides large disparities in wage discrimination against foreign-born migrants depending on their countries of birth, as well as the vanishing of wage discrimination against migrants with tenure. Our results also suggest that wage discrimination disappears in highly competitive product market situations.

Cost-effectiveness of screening for chronic hepatitis B and C among migrant populations in a low endemic country.

BackgroundChronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus (HBV/HCV) can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. In a low endemic country as the Netherlands, migrants are a key risk group and could benefit from early diagnosis and antiviral treatment. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of screening foreign-born migrants for chronic HBV and/or HCV using a societal perspective.MethodsThe cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a Markov model. Estimates on prevalence, screening programme costs, participation and treatment uptake, transition probabilities, healthcare costs, productivity losses and utilities were derived from the literature. The cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained was estimated and sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsFor most migrant groups with an expected high number of chronically infected cases in the Netherlands combined screening is cost-effective, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) ranging from €4,962/QALY gained for migrants originating from the Former Soviet Union and Vietnam to €9,375/QALY gained for Polish migrants. HBV and HCV screening proved to be cost-effective for migrants from countries with chronic HBV or HCV prevalence of ≥0.41% and ≥0.22%, with ICERs below the Dutch cost-effectiveness reference value of €20,000/QALY gained. Sensitivity analysis showed that treatment costs influenced the ICER for both infections.ConclusionsFor most migrant populations in a low-endemic country offering combined HBV and HCV screening is cost-effective. Implementation of targeted HBV and HCV screening programmes to increase early diagnosis and treatment is important to reduce the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C among migrants.

Estimating the scale of chronic hepatitis B virus infection among migrants in EU/EEA countries

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related morbidity and mortality can be reduced through risk group screening, linkage to care and anti-viral treatment. This study estimates the number of CHB cases among foreign-born (migrants) in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries in order to identify the most affected migrant populations. The CHB burden was estimated by combining: demographic data on migrant population size by country of birth in the EU/EEA, extracted from European statistical databases; and CHB prevalence in migrants’ countries of birth and in EU/EEA countries, derived from a systematic literature search. The relative contribution of migrants from endemic countries to the total CHB burden in each country was also estimated. The reliability of using country of birth prevalence as a proxy for prevalence among migrants was assessed by comparing it to the prevalence found in studies among migrants in Europe. An estimated 1–1.9 million CHB-infected migrants from endemic countries (prevalence ≥2%) reside in the EU/EEA. Migrants from endemic countries comprise 10.3% of the total EU/EEA population but account for 25% (15%–35%) of all CHB cases. Migrants born in China and Romania contribute the largest number of infections, with over 100,000 estimated CHB cases each, followed by migrants from Turkey, Albania and Russia, in descending order, with over 50,000 estimated CHB cases each. The CHB prevalence reported in studies among migrants in EU/EEA countries was lower than the country of birth prevalence in 9 of 14 studies. Migrants from endemic countries are disproportionately affected by CHB; their contribution however varies between EU/EEA countries. Migrant focused screening strategies would be most effective in countries with a high relative contribution of migrants and a low general population prevalence. In countries with a higher general population prevalence and a lower relative contribution of migrants, screening specific birth cohorts may be a more effective use of scarce resources. Quantifying the number of CHB infections among 50 different migrant groups residing in each of the 31 EU/EEA host countries helps to identify the most affected migrant communities who would benefit from targeted screening and linkage to care.

Depression stigma and migration \u2013 results of a survey from Germany

BackgroundThere are barely any studies focusing on migration in relation to mental illness stigma. We explore present attitudes regarding depression among migrants (either born in Germany or born abroad) and non-migrants in Germany, drawing upon three components of public stigma: stereotypes, emotional reactions and desire for social distance. Furthermore, differences in self-stigma of depression between the two groups are analyzed.MethodsAnalyses are based on a representative telephone survey (N = 2013) in Germany. Respondents were presented with a vignette depicting either someone from Turkey or from Germany affected by depression, followed by questions on stereotypes, emotional reactions and desire for social distance. The (anticipated) self-stigma of depression was also assessed. Analyses of variance tested for differences between migrant and non-migrant respondents, stratified by migrant status in the vignette.ResultsRegarding the depression vignette depicting a non-migrant, there were only few differences between subgroups. However, when presented with a vignette describing someone from Turkey, respondents with migrant background who were foreign-born expressed greater stigmatizing attitudes, e.g. when it comes to stereotypes or desire for social distance. Furthermore, this subsample displayed higher levels of self-stigma of depression, especially regarding the ascription of own responsibility.ConclusionsThe results underline the need to incorporate migration status/ethnicity in stigma research. Differences in attitudes as well as in (anticipated) self-stigma of depression identify foreign-born migrants in Germany as important target groups for tailored anti-stigma interventions, which need to consider diverse cultural backgrounds.

Effectiveness of Canada's tuberculosis surveillance strategy in identifying immigrants at risk of developing and transmitting tuberculosis: a population-based retrospective cohort study

In Canada, tuberculosis disproportionately affects the foreign-born population. The national tuberculosis medical surveillance programme aims to prevent these cases. Individuals referred for further in-country surveillance (referrals) have a history of active tuberculosis or have features of old, healed tuberculosis on chest radiograph; those not referred (non-referrals) do not undergo surveillance. We aimed to examine the risk of transmission arising from referrals versus non-referrals. We did this population-based retrospective cohort study of foreign-born migrants (aged 15-64 years) to Alberta, Canada, between Jan 1, 2002, and Dec 31, 2013. We obtained information about year of arrival and country of citizenship from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and data for tuberculosis cases and their contacts from the Alberta Tuberculosis Registry. The outcome of interest was culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. We compared the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis and the odds of transmission among referrals versus non-referrals. By use of conventional and molecular epidemiological techniques, we defined transmission as either a secondary case or a tuberculin skin-test (TST) conversion among close contacts. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine the independent association between referral for tuberculosis surveillance and transmission. Between 2002 and 2013, there were 223 225 foreign-born migrants to Alberta, of whom 5500 (2%) were referrals and 217 657 (98%) were non-referrals. 3805 (69%) referrals and 115 226 (53%) non-referrals were from countries with a tuberculosis incidence of more than 150 per 100 000 populations, or sub-Saharan Africa. 234 foreign-born individuals were diagnosed with culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis between Jan 1, 2004, and Dec 31, 2013. The incidence of culture-positive pulmonary disease was nine times higher in referrals (n=50) than all non-referrals (n=184; incidence rate ratio 9·1, 95% CI 6·7-12·5) and five times higher in referrals than non-referrals from high-risk countries (n=167; 5·0, 3·6-6·8). 71 total transmission events arose from the individuals with culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis-three (4%) from referrals and 68 (96%) from non-referrals. No secondary cases were attributable to a referral source case, whereas 18 secondary cases were attributable to 11 different non-referral source cases. Three TST conversions were attributable to three different referral source cases compared with 50 conversions from 31 different non-referral source cases. That is, three (6%) referrals transmitted tuberculosis compared with 42 (22%) non-referrals (adjusted odds ratio of 0·19, 95% CI 0·054-0·66; p=0·009). Despite a much higher incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in referrals than non-referrals, referrals were 80% less likely to transmit tuberculosis. Rather than a focus on referrals, Canada could consider screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis in all migrants from high-risk countries-a group that accounted for 100% of secondary cases. Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

SES Gradients Among Mexicans in the United States and in Mexico: A New Twist to the Hispanic Paradox?

In this article, we seek to replicate this finding and test conjectures that could explain this new observed phenomenon using objective indicators of adult health by educational attainment in several groups: (1) Mexican-born individuals living in Mexico and in the United States, (2) U.S.-born Mexican Americans, and (3) non-Hispanic American whites. Our analytical strategy improves upon previous research on three fronts. First, we derive four hypotheses from a general framework that has also been used to explain the standard Hispanic paradox. Second, we study biomarkers rather than self-reported health and related conditions. Third, we use a binational data platform that includes both Mexicans living in Mexico (Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006) and Mexican migrants to the United States (NHANES 1999-2010). We find steep education gradients among Mexicans living in Mexico's urban areas in five of six biomarkers of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in the overall MetS score. Mexican migrants living in the United States experience similar patterns to Mexicans living in Mexico in glucose and obesity biomarkers. These results are inconsistent with previous findings, suggesting that Mexican migrants in the United States experience significantly attenuated health gradients relative to the non-Hispanic white U.S. Our empirical evidence also contradicts the idea that SES-health gradients in Mexico are shallower than those in the United States and could be invoked to explain shallower gradients among Mexicans living in the United States.

Social Capital and Livelihoods in Johannesburg: Differential Advantages and Unexpected Outcomes among Foreign-Born Migrants, Internal Migrants, and Long-Term South African Residents

Foreign-born migrants – a group rarely compared with both internal migrants and long-term residents – are often positioned as the most disadvantaged South African urban population. We use data from a 2008 cross-sectional household survey conducted in Johannesburg to compare a contextually relevant measure of social capital and livelihood advantages between foreign-born migrants, internal migrants, and long-term South African residents. Our findings are counterintuitive and emphasize the need to explore the heterogeneity of urban migrant populations, and the mechanisms in which they better their lives, by showing that (1) foreign-born migrants have better urban livelihood outcomes, and (2) indicators of social capital are not necessarily associated with improved livelihood outcomes.

Special issue on international migration: editorial introduction

Migration has long been a core topic in regional science, as early reviews such asGreenwood (1985) demonstrate. Most attention to date has been devoted to causesand consequences of interregional migration, not only because of the availability ofdata but also because of the internal distribution of population being a major con-cern of policymakers. Since the 1980s, however, attention has shifted to internationalmigration due to the tremendous growth in the number of foreign-born migrants inmost developed countries. For quite some time, this trend was not picked up in theregional science literature (but see, e.g., Poot 1996 for an early contribution). How-ever, in recent years, a growing number of papers at regional science meetings havebeendevotedtopatternsofinternationalmigrationandtheirimpacts.Thefruitsofthisendeavor are now emerging in the literature—as recent articles in the

Unique Aspects of the Care of HIV-Positive Latino Patients Living in the United States

Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV, with a higher risk of infection and a delayed presentation to care as compared to non-Hispanic whites. Over the last decade many Latinos, especially foreign-born migrants, have settled in regions of the country with historically low Latino representation. Therefore, clinicians who care for HIV-infected patients are likely to encounter Latino patients, regardless of their practice location. Providing optimal care to this population may be especially challenging for clinicians practicing in areas of newer Latino expansion, where culturally appropriate services may be sparse. In this article, we argue that an understanding of the HIV epidemic among Latinos requires an appreciation of the diversity and heterogeneity of the Latino population in the United States. We also review unique clinical aspects of HIV care among Latinos, including manifestation of co-infections with pathogens endemic in Latin America but rare in the United States.

Foreign-born internal migrants: Are they playing a different role than natives on income convergence in Spain?

The main purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether internal migration of foreign-born residents is behind the infant process of provincial income convergence that is taking place in Spain since 2001. In order to fulfil this goal, we propose a new approach within the Markov chain framework that enables us to explore the migration–convergence relationship. For the sake of comparison, this approach is applied to internal migration flows of both foreign-born and natives. The results obtained indicate that the increasingly larger share of foreign-born residents in internal migration is not the cause of the recent reactivation of the provincial convergence process. In addition, these results also reveal that differences between foreign-born and natives in the way they move within Spain do not have a significantly distinct effect on income convergence.