Migrants In Host Countries Research Articles

The public health challenges of female migration: the Venezuelan diaspora in Andean countries

BackgroundVenezuelan migration has experienced an unprecedented increase in the last decade, with approximately 7.7 million Venezuelan-born individuals residing in other countries as of 2024. Our study aims to identify the potential and actual demand for healthcare services (SRH) in the Venezuelan diaspora’s four primary destinations within the Andean Countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.MethodsUsing official data from administrative records, censuses, and sample surveys reported by the host countries and international agencies, we estimate the annual evolution of Venezuelan-born women of reproductive age (WRA) and their offspring. Additionally, we conduct two case studies focusing on Colombia and Chile to analyse the groups most vulnerable to unmet health needs.ResultsThe population of WRA has increased to between 5 and 6.8%, and births have risen to approximately 3–8% in host countries due to Venezuelan migration. Yet, we found a general decrease in health coverage for certain age groups of Venezuelan female migrants in host countries for the period 2017–2022, particularly in Chile. By 2022, an estimated 20% of healthcare needs remained unmet among children, girls, and younger Venezuelan women, contributing to greater health inequalities between Venezuelan-born adolescents and those from other countries of birth.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the escalating demand for and limited access to healthcare services among Venezuelan WRA in their destinations. Unmet healthcare needs are particularly prevalent among younger women by 2022, underscoring the urgency for health system to incorporate gender-responsive, equitable interventions and ensuring health rights for high-risk migrant groups such as infants, children, adolescents, and younger women. Addressing these challenges remains a critical task for the regional public health agenda in Latin America.

РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ ЛЕГАЛЬНОЙ ТРУДОВОЙ МИГРАЦИИ ИЗ ТРЕТЬИХ СТРАН В СООТВЕТСТВИИ С ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛЬСТВОМ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО СОЮЗА

The article deals with the EU legal framework in the sphere of regulation of legal labor migration of citizens from third countries. In recent years this issue has become one of the most discussed in the European Union due to the migration crisis and the development of geopolitical transformations. By examining the relevant provisions of primary and secondary EU law, especially certain provisions of EU secondary legislation, as well as the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereinafter — CJEU), the author concludes that the European Union institutions and competent authorities need to change their approach when it comes to labor market needs. The migration crisis of 2015-2019 has shown the need to develop and further adopt a common migration policy at the supranational level, with particular attention to the regulation of labor migration. Details on improving and developing a program for the integration and assimilation of migrants in host countries are extremely important. There is also a need to develop online platforms and tools to help potential migrants better integrate, which could be similar to the European Job Mobility Portal (EURES). Particular attention needs to be paid to the implementation of European law at the supranational level, as individual countries complicate administrative and bureaucratic regulation in order to reduce the flow of migration into their countries. In general, despite some progress in the development of EU migration law, there is a need to improve it in order to bring it into line with the reality of migration regulation.

Coping with Coping: International Migrants’ Experiences of the Covid‐19 Lockdown in the UK

Globally, policymakers have overlooked the challenges faced by international migrants in host countries during the Covid‐19 pandemic. The policies and support systems designed by host governments highlight the lack of social justice and raise concerns for scholarly attention. Considering the experiences of international migrants living in the UK during the Covid‐19 lockdown from the theoretical perspective of coping, this interpretivist study investigates international migrants’ coping strategies adopted during the first UK national lockdown. Data collected from 60 Chinese, Italian and Iranian migrants using semi‐structured interviews during the lockdown period were analysed thematically using NVivo. The findings show that migrants adopted multi‐layered and multi‐phase coping strategies. To cope with the anxiety and uncertainties caused by the pandemic, they initiated new practices informed by both home and host institution logics. Nevertheless, the hostile context's responses provoked unexpected new worries and triggered the adoption of additional and compromising practices. The paper illustrates how coping became paradoxical because migrants had to cope with the hostile reactions that their initial coping strategies provoked in the host environment. By introducing the new concept of coping with coping, this paper extends previous theoretical debate and leads to several managerial implications for governments and policymakers.

The implications of migration policies on migrant worker mixed families: The case of Filipinos in Israel

The ever-growing worldwide phenomenon of transnational labor migration has resulted in the increase of families formed by migrant workers in destination countries. While scholarly attention has mainly focused on the transnational families of migrant workers, the formation of mixed families involving migrants in host countries has rarely been studied. Based on a qualitative and quantitative study of the Filipino migrant worker community in Israel, this paper explores the dynamics of mixed families within this community. The family formation of Filipino migrants in Israel reveals two main categories of mixed families: one consisting of a migrant worker and a local citizen, and the other consisting of two migrant workers of different origins. I proposed the terminologies “suspect mixed families” and “fragile mixed families” to emphasize the crucial impact of migration policies on the dynamics of these families.

The socioeconomic burden of antibiotic resistance in conflict-affected settings and refugee hosting countries: a systematic scoping review

BackgroundAntibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major global threat. Armed and protracted conflicts act as multipliers of infection and ABR, thus leading to increased healthcare and societal costs. We aimed to understand and describe the socioeconomic burden of ABR in conflict-affected settings and refugee hosting countries by conducting a systematic scoping review.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, Medline (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Open Grey databases was conducted to identify all relevant human studies published between January 1990 and August 2019. An updated search was also conducted in April 2020 using Medline/Ovid. Independent screenings of titles/abstracts followed by full texts were performed using pre-defined criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Data extraction and analysis were based on the PICOS framework and following the PRISMA-ScR guideline.ResultsThe search yielded 8 studies (7 publications), most of which were single-country, mono-center and retrospective studies. The studies were conducted in Lebanon (n = 3), Iraq (n = 2), Jordan (n = 1), Palestine (n = 1) and Yemen (n = 1). Most of the studies did not have a primary aim to assess the socioeconomic impact of ABR and were small studies with limited statistical power that could not demonstrate significant associations. The included studies lacked sufficient information for the accurate evaluation of the cost incurred by antibiotic resistant infections in conflict-affected countries.ConclusionThis review highlights the scarcity of research on the socioeconomic burden of ABR on general populations in conflict-affected settings and on refugees and migrants in host countries, and lists recommendations for consideration in future studies. Further studies are needed to understand the cost of ABR in these settings to develop and implement adaptable policies.

The Immigration Issue in the Field of Sociological Research

Concerns about continuous migration flows in recent decades have been politically adequately communicated globally by European politics. However, no European country has developed a social policy with appropriate precautionary measures to address logistical and political-cultural problems arising from the movement of large numbers of displaced people, problems that concern not only the host countries but also the countries of origin of immigrants. And although discussions at the level of studies on the immigration problem and its effects on the dominant culture have started too early, there is still a lack of research on the cultural side of migration and its implications for the political cultures of the host countries. Only isolated cases of reactions and discussions about the immigration policy of countries that welcome immigrants can be found in the literature. The present study first describes the situation that has been developed in Greece and Europe in the last five years by the increased number of refugees and migrants, which began to arrive, mainly through the Mediterranean, in Greece with a distant destination in the countries of Central and Northern Europe. Moreover, the study focuses on the areas of research that science needs to explore and study, in order for European policy to draw the necessary elements to formulate a strategic policy for the integration of migrants in host countries.

Migrant Health: Healthy Migrant Effect and the Need to Prioritize Migrant Health

Globally, the number of international migrants is about 258 million with over 60% of these living in Asia and Europe and the rest of the 40% living in Northern America, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Oceania. We aimed to describe the healthy migrant effect, the public health challenges faced by migrants and approaches that host countries can adopt to improve migrant health. We used literature searched from key databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, among others, to collect relevant and recent information about migrant health. Several studies have shown recent migrants to be healthier than native-born populations. Several studies have concluded that with a longer stay in a host country, the health of migrants tends to deteriorate which could be as a result of low living and working conditions and adoption of risky health behaviour. Communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental and social problems, contribute significantly to the morbidity burden of new migrants in host countries. Migrants in host countries are less likely to access or fully benefit from the healthcare system as they face various challenges such as language barrier, denial of access basing on the lack of documentation, and negative healthcare provider attitudes. This mini-review identifies that in order to ensure the health of migrants, host countries have to effectively coordinate and collaborate with other countries and sectors. Furthermore, it highlights a need to promote migrant-sensitive health policies aimed at improving the health of migrants, promoting equitable access to health protection and care for migrants and advocating migrants’ health rights.

Mapping the Diverse Genetic Disorders and Rare Diseases Among the Syrian Population: Implications on Refugee Health and Health Services in Host Countries.

The aim of this systematic review is to provide physicians and researchers with a comprehensive list of reported genetic disorders in patients of Syrian origin-those who have become part of the largest displaced population globally-and to highlight the need to consider migrant population-based risk for the development of genetic disease control and prevention programs. This review was performed based on the 2015 PRISMA and the international prospective register of systematic reviews. The present review reports on a total of 166 genetic disorders (only 128 reported on OMIM) identified in the Syrian population. Of these disorders, 27% are endocrine-, nutritional- and metabolic-related diseases. Second to metabolic disorders are congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities. Diseases of the blood and the blood-forming organs accounted for 13% of the total genetic disorders. The majority of the genetic disorders reported in Syrian patients followed an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. These findings are a reflection of the high rates of consanguineous marriages that favor the increase in incidence of these diseases. From the diseases that followed an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, 22% are reported to be only present in Syria and other regional countries. Twelve of these genetic diseases were identified to be strictly diagnosed in individuals of Syrian origin. The present systematic review highlights the need to develop programs that target genetic disorders affecting Syrian migrants in host countries. These programs would have potential financial and economic benefits, as well as a positive impact on the physical and mental health of members of the Syrian refugee community and those of their host societies. In turn, this would decrease the burden on the health systems in host countries.

Pre-migration traumatic experiences, post-migration perceived discrimination and substance use among Russian and Kurdish migrants-a population-based study.

Background and aimsThe associations between traumatic events, substance use and perceived discrimination have been rarely studied among migrants in host countries. We examined whether pre‐migration potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs) or perceived discrimination (PD) are associated with substance use among migrants with voluntary (Russians) and forced (Kurds) migration backgrounds.DesignCross‐sectional interview and health examination data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study were used. The target sample (n = 1000 for each group) was drawn from the national population register using stratified random sampling by participants’ country of birth and native language.SettingPopulation‐based data were collected from six cities in Finland during 2010–12.ParticipantsThe participation rates were 68% (Russians) and 59% (Kurds). The analytical sample size varied (Russians n = 442–687, Kurds n = 459–613), as some participants completed only interview, health examination or short interview. The majority of Kurds had a refugee background (75%) while Russians had mainly migrated for other reasons (99%).MeasurementsThe three main outcomes were self‐reported binge drinking, daily smoking and life‐time cannabis use. PTEs and PD were self‐reported in the interview. Socio‐demographic background, migration‐related factors and current affective symptoms were adjusted for.FindingsAmong Kurds, PTEs were associated with binge drinking [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.30–5.42] and PD was associated with life‐time cannabis use (aOR = 3.89, 95% CI = 1.38–10.97) after adjusting for contextual factors. Among Russians, PTEs were associated with life‐time cannabis use adjusting for contextual factors (aOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.12–4.18).ConclusionsIn Finland, pre‐migration traumatic experiences appear to be associated with life‐time cannabis use among the Russian migrant population (voluntary migration) and binge drinking among the Kurdish migrant population (forced migration). Perceived discrimination in Finland appears to be associated with life‐time cannabis use among Kurdish migrants.

LABOR INSERTION POLICIES OF RETURNING COLOMBIAN MIGRANTS BETWEEN 2012 AND 2018

The article aims to analyze if the linkages between migration policies and labor related measures for returnees in Colombia since the approval of the Law of Return, 2012. In order to do so, the authors use a documentary analysis methodology derived from a desk review of labor market information, employment and migration policies. This process considers aspects related to the design of differentiated programs for the returnee population and the existence or development of monitoring mechanisms. The article considers the context of emigration and return in Colombia, the labor profile of Colombian migrants in host countries, as well as the recent dynamics of the labor market in Colombia, discussing some structural factors such as unemployment and informality and the need to consider these aspects in the interventions created for the socioeconomic integration of returnees. The authors list and analyze the main activities on issues of employability and entrepreneurship as presented by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labor in their management reports to demonstrate the existence and extent of inter-institutional coordination mechanisms. The article concludes with the need to collect and disseminate information on the evidence of the labor insertion of returnees in order to collect and propose technical inputs from different actors that could be included in the programs or policies aimed at doing so.

Формы взаимодействия низкоквалифицированных трудовых мигрантов и работодателей в принимающих обществах (на примере Греции, России и Франции)

Павел Петрович Лисицын – к. с.н., доцент, Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет; Санкт-Петербургский государственный экономический университет; Санкт-Петербург, Россия. Электронная почта: fox_sociology@mail.ru
 Александр Михайлович Степанов – научный сотрудник, Санкт-Петербургский государственный экономический университет; ассистент, Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет, Санкт-Петербург, Россия. Электронная почта: 9160001@inbox
 Статья рассматривает формы взаимодействия между участниками процесса трудовой миграции: низкоквалифицированными внешними трудовыми мигрантами и работодателями в Греции, России и Франции. Эти страны характеризуются различной миграционной политикой, но сходны в том, что на их рынках труда присутствует значительное число низко- и неквалифицированных трудовых мигрантов. Эмпирический материал, который служит основой для анализа, собран в ходе серии исследований в девяти крупных городах (Москва, Санкт-Петербург, Иваново, Самара, Ростов-на-Дону, Тольятти; Афины, Салоники; Париж) в 2016–2017 гг. Авторами проведено 186 качественных фокусированных интервью с внешними трудовыми мигрантами, выполняющими низко- и неквалифицированную работу; с их работодателями; с представителями государственных учреждений, в чьи обязанности входит работа с мигрантами; с представителями посредников, введенных работодателями, трудовыми мигрантами или государством для отстаивания интересов соответствующих субъектов. Трудовые мигранты в России были гражданами Узбекистана и Таджикистана, трудовые мигранты во Франции – Марокко, Украины и России, в Греции – России и Украины. По характеру труда информанты представляли типичные сферы занятости мигрантов: строительство, текстильную индустрию, торговлю, сферу обслуживания. Отталкиваясь от различия между формальными (юридическими) и неформальными правилами, реализующимися в повседневных практиках акторов, авторы выделяют практики и условия взаимодействия между трудовым мигрантом и работодателем, определяемые балансом социально-экономических интересов участников: (1) «серое» правовое поле для мигрантов; (2) спрос на неквалифицированную иностранную рабочую силу на средних и крупных предприятиях; (3) «мигрантизацию» секторов экономики с возможностью формирования этнических экономических ниш; (4) прекарное положение мигрантов на принимающей территории. Представленные формы взаимодействия не только закрепляются, воспроизводятся и транслируются в повседневных практиках, но и поддерживаются участниками, несмотря на их противоречие формальным юридическим правилам.

Life-Stories of Labour Migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Balkanist Discourse(s), Liminality and Integration

ABSTRACTThe paper focuses on the role of the ‘Balkanist discourse’, as a collection of negative prejudices on the Balkan people and cultures, in constructing the individual and collective identities of labour migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Particular emphasis is given to investigating to what extent the Balkanist discourse meta-narrative affects the integration of the labour migrants in host countries’ societies and their reintegration into BiH upon their temporary or permanent return. Based on an analytical model that emphasizes the mutual conditionality of everyday and public discourses, i.e. the typology of Balkanist discourse variations, this study undertakes a discourse analysis of the life stories of 10 young labour migrants from BiH. The research results show that variations of the Balkanist discourse are a dominant referential framework for the migrants in interpreting their own experience and social phenomena in both host country and BiH, regardless of the migrants embracing these Balkanist discourse stereotypes as part of their personal identity or feeling resistance towards them.

5.5-O7HIV/STI prevention targeting migrants in host countries: a scoping review

5.5-O7HIV/STI prevention targeting migrants in host countries: a scoping review

Improving understanding of food choices and dietary changes among migrants in host countries

Improving understanding of food choices and dietary changes among migrants in host countries

Immunization Strategies Targeting Newly Arrived Migrants in Non-EU Countries of the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that host countries ensure appropriate vaccinations to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. However, information on vaccination strategies targeting migrants in host countries is limited. Methods: In 2015–2016 we carried out a survey among national experts from governmental bodies of 15 non-EU countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea in order to document and share national vaccination strategies targeting newly arrived migrants. Results: Four countries reported having regulations/procedures supporting the immunization of migrants at national level, one at sub-national level and three only targeting specific population groups. Eight countries offer migrant children all the vaccinations included in their national immunization schedule; three provide only selected vaccinations, mainly measles and polio vaccines. Ten and eight countries also offer selected vaccinations to adolescents and adults respectively. Eight countries provide vaccinations at the community level; seven give priority vaccines in holding centres or at entry sites. Data on administered vaccines are recorded in immunization registries in nine countries. Conclusions: Although differing among countries, indications for immunizing migrants are in place in most of them. However, we cannot infer from our findings whether those strategies are currently functioning and whether barriers to their implementation are being faced. Further studies focusing on these aspects are needed to develop concrete and targeted recommendations for action. Since migrants are moving across countries, development of on-line registries and cooperation between countries could allow keeping track of administered vaccines in order to appropriately plan immunization series and avoid unnecessary vaccinations.

الهجرة وعلاقتها بالتغيرات القيمية

تناولت الدراسة الحالية موضوع الهجرة والتغيرات القيمية التي طرأت على المهاجرين العراقيين في الخارج كما تناولت دوافع الهجرة من العراق الى البلدان الاخرى ومعرفة مدى تكيف المهاجرين في البلدان المضيفة وماهي اغلب المشاكل التي يعانون منها , وقد تطرقت الدراسة الى الهجرة عبر العصور المختلفة وكيف كانت دوافع الهجرة في كل عصر ابتداء من عصور ماقبل التاريخ مرورا بالعصور القديمة والعصور الاسلامية انتهاء بالعصر الحديث . ومن المعروف ان البيئة تؤثر في الافراد تاثير كبير وربما تدفع الافراد الى تغير عاداتهم وتقاليدهم , ان اهمية دراسة القيم ومعرفة مدى التغيرات التي سببتها الهجرة ومدى التغير الحاصل في القيم من خلال هذه الهجرات ومدى التزام الاسر المهاجرة بقيم وتقاليد البلد الام من المشكلات التي تدفع للبحث لمعرفة اسباب التغير القيمي الذي طرأ على الاسر المهاجرة ودفعهم الى التغير.

Identity Denial and Borrowing among Forced Migrants in Host Countries: A Discursive Psychological Perspective

This article explores identity formation, change and use of multiple identities among forced migrants. The research, a longitudinal study lasting two years between 2009 and 2011, was conducted through interviews with, and observation of, five migrants. The use of the longitudinal study was geared at compensating for the limited sample size. The findings led to the conclusion that identity could be an individual construct since individuals may have the capacity to decide who they aspire to be and shape themselves in particular selves. The research found that choices may not be free but conditioned by social and environmental factors. For migrants, identity formation is therefore constrained by the need to maintain the native identity as well as espouse [or borrow] host and imagined identities in order to integrate into societies and manage the effects of displacement and loss. The research suggests that identity manipulation could be a social and psychological survival tactics, commanding further inquiry.

Inmigración y propiedad de la vivienda: los casos de California y España, 2001-2006

En los últimos años California y España, dos contextos donde predomina la tenencia de la vivienda en propiedad, han recibido un gran volumen de inmigrantes y han experimentado una burbuja inmobiliaria que ha acabado por desinflarse. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la propiedad de la vivienda de los extranjeros en ambos contextos entre 2001 y 2006, considerándola como un indicador de integración de los inmigrantes en las sociedades de acogida. Otros objetivos, derivados del anterior, son determinar la influencia de la nacionalidad en la propiedad de la vivienda y analizar cómo influyen los factores sociodemográficos para que nacionales y extranjeros vivan en propiedad. La modelización de las variables sociodemográficas muestra que entre 2001 y 2006 la propensión a vivir en propiedad de los extranjeros es inferior a la de los nacionales y, lo que es más importante, que el sistema residencial español les exige más esfuerzo que el californiano para vivir en propiedad.