Majority Of Migrants Research Articles

Migrant Children and Integration-Related Challenges in Lithuania: The Opinions of Educators (A Case Study)

The number of migrant children in Lithuania is increasing every year. For many years, the majority of migrants (around 82%) were returning Lithuanians, but since 2022, due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, a large influx of Ukrainian immigrants has been observed: 7761 children have arrived in Lithuania since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion. This study aims to highlight the integration-related challenges that educators face in the context of the increasing number of migrant children. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews (N = 9) were applied to investigate the issue and outline possible solutions from the point of view of educators. The study was conducted in a school with 875 students, including 31 (3.5%) immigrants. The empirical study revealed that the school implements the integration of migrant children in accordance with the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport. Upon the arrival of a migrant child, the committee assesses the child’s knowledge, interviews the parents, and determines the appropriate class placement and learning methods. An individual education plan is then devised based on the expectations of both the child and their parents. Teachers face challenges related to language barriers and cultural differences. The provision of courses developing intercultural competence, more language lessons, and training for both children and their parents are considered to be the most important conditions for the successful integration of migrant children into the education system.

Patterns and determinants of location change in migrants’ residential mobility: A case study of Fuzhou

Residential mobility is an important issue within urban and housing studies. However, the existing literature mainly focuses on the pattern and motivation for a move of residential mobility, and seldom examines the location changes before and after migrants’ residential mobility. This study adopts the perspective of life-course and social-psychological theories to depict the residential trajectories of Fuzhou migrants, explores the influencing factors of location change in residential mobility, and conducts a comparative analysis of inter-provincial and intra-provincial migrants. It is found that the majority of migrants just move between urban villages in the same township, and the dominant type of location change is an outward movement across the ring roads, and this trajectory is especially marked among intra-provincial migrants. Changes in neighborhood environment and perception are decisive in explaining the location change of both intra-provincial and inter-provincial migrants. Additionally, younger cohorts, marriage, and having children in the city only significantly affect inter-provincial migrants’ residential location change, while changes in housing conditions are only of great importance to intra-provincial migrants’ residential location change.

The problems and perspectives of internal migration of youth in kazakhstan

The research clearly identified a majority of young people constantly leave Kazakhstan to work in foreign countries. This problem can be solved by developing social conditions for working and studying which retain the youth in our country. For context, the experience of foreign and domestic scientists was analyzed in our article. In order to understand the underlying issues raised in this study we should consider the life principles and ideas of youth development which currently exist in our country. This study has brought to our attention the key problems of state policy in the field of youth migration, the need to identify issues that concern young migrants so that future decision-making can target the elimination of social attitudes and problems which cause youth migration. The study developed recommendations to be directed at the government, local executives, representative bodies and civil society organizations, with a view addressing the problems faced by young people, which are sources of social tension and lead to migration. The research showed that the majority of migrants do not have membership of pension funds and are excluding from the provision of  social welfare benefits and allowances for themselves and their children. More than five hundred respondents and students aged from 18 to 28, from different regions of the country, were interviewed as part of the research. A comparative analysis of statistical data of young people working abroad was also conducted. The main reasons and consequences of the departure of the youth of Kazakhstan abroad were therefore determined. The practical significance of this research is that it be used when discussing and resolving the issue of youth migration in the subject areas of political science and sociology. Key words: Youth of Kazakhstan, internal migration, education abroad, global integration, social support

Transmission Clusters, Predominantly Associated With Men Who Have Sex With Men, Play a Main Role in the Propagation of HIV-1 in Northern Spain (2013-2018).

Viruses of HIV-1-infected individuals whose transmission is related group phylogenetically in transmission clusters (TCs). The study of the phylogenetic relations of these viruses and the factors associated with these individuals is essential to analyze the HIV-1 epidemic. In this study, we examine the role of TCs in the epidemiology of HIV-1 infection in Galicia and the Basque County, two regions of northern Spain. A total of 1,158 HIV-1-infected patients from both regions with new diagnoses (NDs) in 2013–2018 were included in the study. Partial HIV-1 pol sequences were analyzed phylogenetically by approximately maximum-likelihood with FastTree 2. In this analysis, 10,687 additional sequences from samples from HIV-1-infected individuals collected in Spain in 1999–2019 were also included to assign TC membership and to determine TCs’ sizes. TCs were defined as those which included viruses from ≥4 individuals, at least 50% of them Spaniards, and with ≥0.95 Shimodaira-Hasegawa-like node support in the phylogenetic tree. Factors associated to TCs were evaluated using odds ratios (OR) and their 95% CI. Fifty-one percent of NDs grouped in 162 TCs. Male patients (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.5–4.7) and men having sex with men (MSM; OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4–3.2) had higher odds of belonging to a TC compared to female and heterosexual patients, respectively. Individuals from Latin America (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2–0.4), North Africa (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–1.0), and especially Sub-Saharan Africa (OR: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.003–0.2) were inversely associated to belonging to TCs compared to native Spaniards. Our results show that TCs are important components of the HIV-1 epidemics in the two Spanish regions studied, where transmission between MSM is predominant. The majority of migrants were infected with viruses not belonging to TCs that expand in Spain. Molecular epidemiology is essential to identify local peculiarities of HIV-1 propagation. The early detection of TCs and prevention of their expansion, implementing effective control measures, could reduce HIV-1 infections.

Alternative migratory strategies related to life history differences in the Walleye (Sander vitreus)

BackgroundWhile Pace of Life Syndrome predicts behavioural differences between individuals with differential growth and survival, testing these predictions in nature is challenging due to difficulties with measuring individual behaviour in the field. However, recent advances in acoustic telemetry technology have facilitated measurements of individual behaviour at scales not previously possible in aquatic ecosystems.MethodsUsing a Walleye (Sander vitreus) population inhabiting Black Bay, Lake Superior, we examine whether life history characteristics differ between more and less mobile individuals as predicted by Pace of Life Syndrome. We tracked the movement of 192 individuals from 2016 to 2019 using an acoustic telemetry study, relating patterns in annual migratory behaviour to individual growth, and seasonal changes in optimal thermal-optical habitat.ResultsWe observed two consistent movement patterns in our study population—migratory individuals left Black Bay during late summer to early fall before returning to the bay, whereas residents remained within the bay year-round. The average maximum length of migrant Walleye was 5.5 cm longer than residents, and the sex ratios of Walleye caught during fall surveys was increasingly female-biased towards the mouth of Black Bay, suggesting that a majority of migrants were females. Further, Walleye occupancy outside of Black Bay was positively associated with increasing thermal-optical habitat.ConclusionsWalleye in Black Bay appear to conform to Pace of Life Syndrome, with migrant individuals gaining increased fitness through increased maximum size, which, given size-dependent fecundity in this species, likely results in greater reproductive success (via greater egg deposition vs. non-migrants). Further, apparent environmental (thermal) controls on migration suggest that migratory Walleye (more so than residents) may be more sensitive to changing environmental conditions (e.g., warming climate) than residents.

Types and determinants of migrants' settlement intention in China's new phase of urbanization: A multi-dimensional perspective

Using data from China Migrant Dynamic Survey, this paper provides an updated and comprehensive study on migrants' settlement intention and its determinants, based on a new way of conceptualizing and measuring such intention and its permanency and stability. The results suggest that although the majority of migrants have the intention to settle down in the destination cities on a permanent or long-term temporary basis, migrants with permanent settlement intention are still a minority, and there is a significant variation of migrants' settlement intention in terms of its permanency and stability among migrants, cities of different sizes, and geographical regions. The modelling results reveal that being married, higher levels of educational attainment, occupational status and income, family migration, and housing availability and stability of residence in the host city, boost migrants' long-term and permanent settlement intention. Moreover, migrants' urban origin and hukou status, higher occupational status, younger age, and the larger size, more economic prosperity and well-developed public services of their destination cities, significantly promote the permanent settlement intention. These results will facilitate relevant policy making to further advance China's urbanization, and contribute to better theoretical understanding of urban and mobility transitions in developing countries.

Covid-19 Induced Exacerbated Problems and the Vicious Circle of Migrants’ Household Poverty in Bangladesh: A Case Study

Before the Covid-19 current migrant workers who worked in informal sector encountered multiple problems in their host countries while the majority of returning and the aspirant migrants also encountered multiple problems in their origin countries. Within these problems a majority of them reduced poverty and led improved living standards. This article has tried to explore an association between the accelerated problems induced by the Covid-19 and migrant households’ poverty through the application of ‘vicious circle of poverty’ approach developed by Ragnar Nurkse (1953). It finds that the Covid-19 has rigorously affected the informal employment sector of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Southeast Asian countries - two major hubs of Bangladeshi migrant workers - where mainly unskilled and low-skilled migrant workers are employed. The migrants who are already employed in informal sector have acutely faced job loss, underpayment, non-payment, accommodation, health, etc. related problems while the returning and the aspirant migrants have also acutely faced unemployment, underemployment, financial crisis, debt, etc. that they faced before the pandemic but did not face acutely. Due to acute problems, remittance inflows to the current and the returning migrants’ household have significantly been reduced which has propelled migrant households’ members to take loan and sell distressed assets in maintaining Covid-19 induced livelihoods and paying previous debt, and thus the majority of migrants’ household have fallen in a vicious circle of poverty. The aspirant migrants have also fallen in a circle of poverty as they have spent a substantial amount of money for migration but failed to migrate and earn. To reduce poverty incidence of migrants’ household and protect them from falling into poverty in future the article has identified some issues and suggested policy strategies of each issue.

Influence of migrant background on patient preference and expectations in breast and gynecological malignancies (NOGGO-expression V study): results of a prospective multicentre study in 606 patients in Germany

BackgroundAn effective cross-cultural doctor-patient communication is vital for health literacy and patient compliance. Building a good relationship with medical staff is also relevant for the treatment decision-making process for cancer patients. Studies about the role of a specific migrant background regarding patient preferences and expectations are lacking. We therefore conducted a multicentre prospective survey to explore the needs and preferences of patients with a migrant background (PMB) suffering from gynecological malignancies and breast cancer to evaluate the quality of doctor-patient communication and cancer management compared to non-migrants (NM).MethodsThis multicentre survey recruited patients with primary or recurrence of breast, ovarian, peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer. The patients either filled out a paper form, participated via an online survey, or were interviewed by trained staff. A 58-item questionnaire was primarily developed in German and then translated into three different languages to reach non-German-speaking patients.ResultsA total of 606 patients were included in the study: 54.1% (328) were interviewed directly, 9.1% (55) participated via an online survey, and 36.8% (223) used the paper print version. More than one quarter, 27.4% (166) of the participants, had a migrant background. The majority of migrants and NM were highly satisfied with the communication with their doctors.First-generation migrants (FGM) and patients with breast cancer were less often informed about participation in clinical trials (p < 0.05) and 24.5% of them suggested the help of an interpreter to improve the medical consultation. Second and third-generation migrants (SGM and TGM) experienced more fatigue and nausea than expected.ConclusionsOur results allow the hypothesis that training medical staff in intercultural competence and using disease-related patient information in different languages can improve best supportive care management and quality of life in cancer patients with migrant status.

Causes and consequences of external labor migration in Ukraine (on the example of Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Migration processes of the XXI century have a significant impact on the development of civil society in Ukraine, as they are characterized by large scale. These processes affect the formation of socio-demographic, economic, political and cultural spheres. In Ivano-Frankivsk region, as in the border area, they are quite dynamic. Coverage of migration processes, in particular, labor migration, during the economic crisis, social instability and hostilities in the country and served as a study of the chosen topic of scientific publication. Based on the methods of analysis and synthesis, the main causes and consequences of migration processes in Ivano-Frankivsk region are analyzed. The authors noted the influence of geographical, social and personal factors on the intensification of external migration, and also noted that the economic factor is predominant. In the scientific work for the first time a thorough analysis of the financial condition of citizens of Ukraine in the calculation of the level of the minimum wage in Ivano-Frankivsk region and within Ukraine, in general. Wages were also compared and their differences between Ukraine and a number of European countries, in particular, in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Lithuania. The number of migrants by all types of migration flows during the last year within the Ivano-Frankivsk region is graphically represented by gender. It is established that the majority of migrants are women. Also an important place in the study was the analysis of migration from 2002 to 2019. In the article highlighting the dynamics of these processes, a comparative analysis of the definition of migration. The authors propose the main steps to improve migration policy, namely: the formation of a clear regional program in the field of migration processes, which will ultimately form the basis for sustainable economic development of the region, wage growth (including minimum wage), increase the employed population (respectively, reducing the number of unemployed), as well as replenishment of local budgets through taxes. The current state of external migration within Ivano-Frankivsk is analyzed. It was revealed that against the background of complex socio-economic reforms in the region there was a reduction in the migration flow of the local population in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Simple Sources for Complex Problems. Where Did Californians Come From in 1940?

Kees Mandemakers has been a leader in the study of linked population data, but not every society has the sources or resources to create linked data. This essay is about one approach that derives from a source that does not offer all that is possible with linked longitudinal data, but that nonetheless has significant value. Migration to California is one of the persistent refrains encountered in both popular and academic works about the history of the 1930s. The reason for this is simple. In literature and the arts, images of that migration are well known, but while those themes are accurate, they have not been sufficiently studied. My approach is to study migration using census data that ask a retrospective question about where each respondent lived five years earlier, in this case tracking migration from 1935 to 1940. Focusing on migrants to California and the paths that they took, I show that there was migration from much of the U.S. especially metropolitan areas across the country, from states near to California, and from places subject to the severe environmental shocks of the 1930s. I also show that while much of the general view of migration to California focuses on agricultural workers who left their homes in search of farm work further west, the large majority of migrants to California went to metropolitan destinations and worked as much in industry and commerce as in agriculture.

Contractually Sterilized: Migrant Mothers and Carceral Politics in the Gulf Coast Cooperation (GCC) Countries

Migration to the Gulf Countries of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait has become increasingly feminized in the past two decades. Women make up the majority of migrants to the Gulf, and while they often migrate during their most fertile reproductive years while they labor in the Gulf, they are prohibited by contract from becoming pregnant—leading to a situation of what I call “contractual sterilization.” The purpose of this essay is twofold: first, to look at the impacts of contractual sterilization on migrant women’s experiences as they labor abroad; and second, to look at how becoming a parent (or the possibility of reproducing) while in the host country structures a discourse and series of actions that can lead migrant women into challenging situations of becoming undocumented and illegal, detained, abused, or deported. Drawing on several years of ethnographic research in the UAE and Kuwait between 2004 and 2014, I contrast women’s experiences of parenthood in Kuwait City, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi with conversations and discourses constructed about migrant women’s bodies, reproductive capabilities, and sexualities. Beyond looking at the question of intimate labor, I aim to look at the intimate lives of those engaging in intimate labor and ask what of the personal, affective, and emotional ties of those working in spheres of intimate labor?

Access to health care and Informal Patient Payments for health care in Serbia

Abstract Background Evidence often shows that migrants in the European region have poor access to quality health care. Having a large number of migrants seeking towards Europe, crossing through i.e. Serbia, it is crucial to improve migrants' access to health care and ensure equality in service provision Aim To investigate what are the barriers and facilitators of access to health care in Serbia, perceived by migrants, policy makers, health care providers, civil servants and experts working with migrants. Methods six migrants in an asylum center and eight civil servants in the field of migration were conducted. A complementary questionnaire to key civil servants working with migrants (N = 19) is being distributed to complement the data. The qualitative and quantitative data will be analysed through Grounded Theory and Logistic Regression respectively. Results According to preliminary findings, migrants reported that they were able to access the health care services quite easily. Migrants were mostly fully aware of their rights to access these health care services. However, the interviewed civil servants experienced that, despite the majority of migrants in camps were treated fairly, some migrants were treated inappropriately by health care professionals (being addressed inappropriately, poor or lacking treatment). The civil servants believed that local Serbs, from their own experiences, were treated poorer than migrants (I.e. paying Informal Patient Payments, poor quality of and access to health care services). The interviewed migrants were trusting towards the health system, because they felt protected by the official system that guaranteed them services. The final results will be presented at the conference. Conclusions There was a difference in quality of and access to health care services of local Serbs and migrants in the region. Migrants may be protected by the official health care system and thus have access to and do not pay additional fees for health care services. Key messages Despite comprehensive evidence on Informal Patient Payments (IPP) in Serbia, further research is needed to highlight how health system governance and prevailing policies affect IPP in migrants. There may be clear differences in quality of and access to health care services between the local population and migrants in Serbia.

Updating Ravenstein: Internal Migration as a Driver of Regional Population Change in the Wider South East of England

Key among Ravenstein’s “laws”, derived from extensive analysis of mid-19th century migration patterns in the British Isles, are that the majority of migrants go only a short distance and that migration proceeds stepwise as a sequence of localised population shifts towards the principal centres of commerce and industry. This paper tests these two laws in the 21st century context of counterurbanisation by reference to migration taking place within the Wider South East (WSE) of England, being the region dominated by deconcentration pressures emanating from London. It comprises two sets of empirical analyses using migration data for the period 2001-2016. Firstly, these data are aggregated to a set of broadly concentric rings around this core and analysed to reveal how much of the net outward shifts of population produced by this migration arises from net movement taking place between adjacent rings as a type of cascade as opposed to leapfrogging directly from the core into a non-adjacent ring. Cascading is found to predominate at this scale, confirming the continued importance of shorter-distance moving. Secondly, the migration data are rendered into a Travel to Work Area (TTWA) framework to examine the extent to which these subdivisions of the WSE perform a type of entrepôt role in helping to shift population outwards from London. Drawing on Ravenstein’s concepts of counties of “transfer” and “absorption”, two measures are developed for revealing how the net inflow to a particular TTWA from rings closer to the core compares numerically with the net outflow from that TTWA to the rings further away from it. The derived transfer and absorption rates are then used to classify the TTWAs into four groups according to whether their scores on each are above or below average. It is found that a TTWA’s role varies according to two main dimensions: the concentric zone to which it belongs and the radial sector out of London in which it is located, notably whether the sector has a coastal or landward border. &#x0D; * This article belongs to a special issue on “Internal Migration as a Driver of Regional Population Change in Europe: Updating Ravenstein”.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ТРУДОВОЇ МОБІЛЬНОСТІ ВІТЧИЗНЯНОГО РИНКУ ПРАЦІ В УМОВАХ СУЧАСНИХ РЕФОРМ

Розкрито проблему масової міграції трудових ресурсів з України за кордон в умовах сучасних реформ, які супроводжуються високим рівнем безробіття, посиленням соціальної напруги і зростанням диференціації рівня життя населення. Досліджено особливості міграції трудових ресурсів в інші країни і виявлено чинники, які стимулюють цей процес в Україні. Акцентовано на проблемі міграції висококваліфікованих кадрів та обгрунтовано різницю цілей і причин виїзду високо- та низькокваліфікованих кадрів. У першому варіанті це перспектива користування якісними інституціями, кар’єрного розвитку і відчуття безпеки; у другому — заробіток. Визначено та охарактеризовано основні тенденції, характерні процесові зовнішньої трудової міграції з України в умовах сьогодення. Серед результатів особливостей міграції українців за кордон упродовж останніх років визначено такі: переважна більшість мігрантів — це представники найпростіших професій і кваліфіковані працівники з інструментом; існує активна участь молоді в міграційних процесах і зростання ризику їх неповернення у зв’язку з відсутністю та низькою сформованістю низки соціальних зв’язків. Сьогодні спостерігається зниження строку перебування мігрантів за кордоном. Це свідчить про зростання циркулярної міграції та знову акцентує на проблемі неефективності політики у сфері зайнятості в Україні.

Stereotypes regarding Central Asian migrants’ perception as representatives of the single region culture

The relevance of the studies regarding all levels of cultural interactions between the nations of Central Asia and the Russians can be explained by a number of factors. The people from these countries used to belong to one territorial-political entity of the USSR; these countries used to be geographically closed to Russia. Today the Central Asian countries share similar economic and political interests, stick to the similar strategic priorities as does Russia. The Sverdlovsk region (the Russian Federation) annually receives large migration flows. Significant amount of migrants come from CIS countries, in particular, from Central Asia. In general, the majority of migrants from the CIS countries (The Commonwealth of Independent States) who are currently living in Russia (the data 2018) come from Central Asian countries (67,7 %). The migrants of foreign ethnicities from Central Asia not only fall into the ranks of labour and student migrants on annual basis, but also obtain Russian citizenship. Thus, the issue of perception of Central Asian migrants’ cultural characteristics by the Russians remains relevant. The results of the surveys of Ekaterinburg citizens (2016 and 2019) show that according to their perception they see the migrants from Central Asia as the representatives of the single cultural environment; there is no differentiation between ethnic groups in their views. This fact was confirmed by the content analysis of comments from Russian residents in the group “Science in the Urals”. It showed that the a percentage of Russians interested in this problem, first of all, shows a negative attitude towards migrants from Central Asian countries, stereotypically equating all ethnic groups of migrants from this region.

International migration to an economically lagging EU region: case study of Ukraine and Eastern Slovakia

The research on international migration is usually focused on the most attractive destinations of migrations or areas of origin of migration flows suffering from considerable migration loss. This paper analyses the development and spatial patterns of migration from Ukraine to Slovakia with a special emphasis on Eastern Slovakia, which is employed as a case study of an economically lagging region with significant migration loss. The paper aims to assess if such a lagging region can be an attractive destination for migration from Ukraine, and to what extent migration flows from Ukraine can compensate for its migration loss. By using methods of a statistical analysis based on data from various national and international authorities, field research, and semi-structured interviews, the paper contributes to filling the gap in the research of international migration. Despite the economic lagging behind the western regions, Eastern Slovakia has attracted the majority of migrants from Ukraine to Slovakia. Because the structure of migrants from Ukraine is dominated by well-educated and skilled individuals, who are also culturally close to the domestic population and at the same time well adaptable to a host society, such migration flows are not enough to compensate the massive migration loss of Eastern Slovakia fully but can mitigate its negative consequences including loss of human capital.

Factors Affecting the Social and Cultural Adaptation of Migrants from Central Asia in the Ural Megalopolis

The article presents the results of a sociological study conducted in October-December 2018 in Ekaterinburg. The subject of the study is the factors influencing the social and cultural adaptation of migrants from Central Asia in the Ural megalopolis. The sociological study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative strategies – the method of questionnaire survey (n = 400) and the method of in-depth interview (n = 10). The study revealed a new trend in the migrant environment of the Ural metropolis – the formation of ethnic establishment within the migrant community of the same nationality, which has a relatively high level of income, with a high probability of planning to stay in Russia and obtain citizenship. The author concludes about a new phenomenon in migrant communities – the interaction of migrants with their compatriots left in the country of origin through a social network. Social networks (Vkontakte, Facebook, etc.) are now beginning to replace Diaspora in solving the problems that arise in migrants community in their host culture, especially at the initial stage of their social and cultural adaptation, which indicates the weakening of Diaspora relations of migrants. Every third respondent pointed to this factor. At the same time, the interaction of migrants with their compatriots through the social network, solving problems through social networks, conversation and communication in the network in their native language hinder the social and cultural adaptation of the migrant in the host culture. The study finds out that for young people who came to the Urals from Central Asia it is more difficult to adapt to Russian culture. This is stipulated by the fact that the older generation migrants were socialized in the Soviet Union, learning Russian language, Russian culture, etc. Besides, the older generation does not see a significant difference between the two cultures. In this regard, it is easier for them to undergo social and cultural adaptation in Russia compared to young people. At the same time, the majority of migrants are young and middle-aged people. The study reveals the leading external (education; cultural environment of the host community; age of the migrant; presence / absence of citizenship, etc.) and internal (interest in Russian culture, motivation to move to Russia) factors that ambiguously affect the social and cultural adaptation of migrants from Central Asia in the Ural metropolis.

Informing the development of a pilot intervention to improve migrants’ healthcare assess in Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract Background Third-country nationals have the least access to healthcare in the Czech Republic yet representing the largest group of migrants. This study aimed to inform the development of a pilot intervention to improve migrants’ healthcare access in Brno, Czech Republic, within the existing health policy framework. Methods A Metaplan© qualitative technique was applied to ensure the community participation, through separate sessions with social integration professionals and third countries nationals. Each group first identified issues in migrants’ healthcare, then suggested solutions to address these issues and prioritized these solutions. Results The professionals’ group included five representatives of social integration service providers and administrators. The majority of migrants were female, with higher education, ages 35-55 years, arrived in two years mainly from Ukraine, and not employed. The social integration professionals were more knowledgeable of healthcare policy and migrants’ rights and suggested a wider scope of solutions. The migrants underscored the role of reliable information as a critical tool in utilizing healthcare services. Both groups prioritized an open access to the information as a direct benefit to the users. Other suggestions included multilingual mobile applications, visual aids and translation services, bilingual doctors and universal access to public health insurance. The feasibility of these solutions varied and so their value as intervention models. Conclusions The future interventions should focus on health literacy in the migrant community. This would include the dissemination of multilingual information on health emergency, children vaccinations, health insurance and healthcare system, among other topics, and interactive trainings for migrants and social counselors, to improve self-efficacy in both groups.

Responding to mental health vulnerability in Maltese detention centres: the use of psychological support groups as an intervention tool

Maltese immigration law means that individuals seeking asylum in this country undergo a period of mandatory detention upon arrival lasting a maximum of 18 months. During their stay in detention centres, these individuals are exposed to an environment characterised by loss of liberty, prolonged inactivity, disconnection to family and the outside world and lack of adequate information about ongoing legal proceedings. It is hardly surprising that such a prolonged period of limbo, awash with isolation, uncertainty and degradation, has a negative impact on the mental health of individuals who, in the vast majority, have already experienced multiple personal losses. Research has in fact indicated that the majority of migrants detained in Europe reported deterioration in their mental health during their stay in detention. This article explores the impact of psychological support groups provided by non-state actors in Maltese detention centres aimed at educating about mental health issues, as well as at providing participants with a space where they can openly discuss their psychological difficulties and collaboratively explore ways to enhance their mental health within the constraints of detention. This paper discusses the challenges and benefits of conducting such a programme with an emphasis on how participants viewed the opportunity provided. This discussion analyses how these groups functioned as a medium enabling participants to voice their phenomenological experience of detention on both an individual and collective level and as an arena for negotiating a sense of self that is resilient to the experience of forced detention. In conclusion, this paper provides suggestions on how to address the psychological needs of migrants in closed centres.

Economic Factors of the Intensifying the Migration Process

The factors influencing the intensification of the migration process have been considered since the appearance of the first migration theories. These factors determine both the potential migration opportunities and the actual conditions for the implementation of the migration process. Among the main factors that determine the intensity of the migration process, basic are the factors formed by the labor market (economic factors). Despite a number of migration theories that consider other factors, such as the demand structure, psychological and social factors, we determine the impact of precisely the economic factors (factors formed in the labor market) as the most significant. In today’s world, when determining the intensity and main directions of migration, the economic factors are taken into account by the majority of migrants. At the same time, indirect factors play an important role in the analysis of the migration process. Indirect factors, determining the basic conditions for the intensification of the migration process, form the potential for migration. Potential migration opportunities form an environment that determines the potential number of migrants. Indirect factors include not only the parameters of the development of the national economy as a whole, but also the parameters of the development of individual regions or territories that form the migration attractiveness of these regions.