Public health aspects of migrant health (WHO)

Public health aspects of migrant health: a review of the evidence on health status for labour migrants in the European Region

This report, commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) synthesises findings on policies and interventions to improve the access and quality of health care provision for labour migrants in the WHO European Region. Based on a systematic literature review in MEDLINE, EMBASE, ASSIA, EconLit, SSCI and a grey literature search of studies published in English between 2005 and 2015, 33 relevant studies were identified. 16 studies focused on specific policies or interventions for labour migrants and included information on whether they were successful, 17 studies plus two additional studies included best practice recommendations for future policy-making. The findings point at barriers other than legal ones that prevent full health care utilization and highlight, inter alia, the role of documentation status, high socioeconomic status, health insurance, labour unions and safe working conditions. Other important factors include the necessity of an inter-sectoral approach among different government divisions and cross-border co-operations as potential contributors to reducing inequalities for labour migrants.

Dates:
2015

Funding:
WHO

Information:
Judit Simon, Noemi Kiss, Agata Łaszewska, Susanne Mayer

Publication(s):
Simon J, Kiss N, Łaszewska A, Mayer S (2015): Public health aspects of migrant health: a review of the evidence on health status for labour migrants in the European Region. WHO Health Evidence Network Synthesis Report 43, ISBN 978 92 890 5109 5.