MIGRANTS AND HEALTH

ISSUES
BY PREETI SINGH

MIGRATION

MIGRANT
A person who
moves from one
place to another
in order to find
work or better
living conditions.

MIGRATIO
N

HEALTH

Healthis a state of complete physical,

mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity.

MIGRATION
Migration

is the movement of people

from one place to another.

CAUSES OF MIGRATION

TYPES OF MIGRATION
Intercontinental migration:
It is when the movement is across continents
Rural-Urban Migration:
This involves the movement of people from rural areas or country sides to
urban areas of the same country
Forced or involuntary Migration:
This is when the government or authorities of a place force people to migrate
Impelled Migration (also called reluctant or imposed migration):
Here, no one is forced to migrate but due to some push factors such as war,
hunger and other difficult conditions, people decide to leave
Seasonal Migration:
Sometimes people move during specific seasons such as crop harvesting and
climate to work and then go back when the season is over.
Return Migration:
This involves the voluntary return of migrants to their original place after they
outlive the reasons for which they left.
Long and short-term migration:
People may consider migrating for good if the condition in their home is one
that is threatening

MIGRANT HEALTH
A

specialized field of the health

sciences that focuses on:
the health of migrants, and
the health effects of migration on
communities in countries of
origin, transit and destination

DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Health
Social

beliefs/behaviors

environment

Physical
Access

environment

to health care

HEALTH
BELIEFS/BEHAVIORS
Diet

Obesity
Causes

of illness and treatment

Expectations about health providers
Self-assessment of health
Disease prevention strategies
Mental health
Domestic violence
Use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs
Physical activity

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

New social setting

Legal migratory status

Marginalization
Discrimination,

Loss of familiar and social support

Socio-economic status
Education level
Occupation
Income (Poverty)

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Weather
Environment
Disease
Housing

(eg., air quality)

vectors distribution

and workplace
conditions

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Vulnerabilities:
Differences in health systems and practices
between countries of origin and destinatio
Many barriers to access to care
Culture, language, cost
Limited awareness about available services
Lack of health insurance
Disparities in quality of care

HEALTH ISSUES
Behavioural Health
Cancer
Children's Health
Diabetes
Eye Care
Family Violence
HIV/AIDs
Hepatitis
Immunizations
Oral Health
Tuberculosis
Womens Health

HEALTH ISSUES
Behavioural Health care given
to people to promote optimal
emotional and social well being
Cancer Migrants are at a higher
risk of exposure to cancer-causing
chemicals, as they often work in
industries with chemicals,
pesticides used in the fields,
chemical fumes OF cleaning agents
that are known or probable
carcinogens.
Children's Health children's
migrate, they may experience pre-,
peri-, and post-migration trauma.

Diabetes Migration, causing

discontinuity of care and unfamiliar
health care systems, as well as
special needs related to traveling
long distances; complicate the
needs associated with foot care,
glucose monitoring, hydration, rest,
and self-medication.
Eye Care Prevention of eye
diseases and injuries with a focus
on nutrition and eye care safety.

Family Violence DUE TO

Isolation, Language barriers,
Cultural issues, Lack of access to
health care & Economic
constraints

HIV/AIDS takes an especially heavy toll on the

most vulnerable and marginalized groups in
society. Poverty, low income, limited education,
sub-standard housing, and limited access to
health care are all factors that increase the rate of
HIV/AIDS in a population

Hepatitis A is transmitted via a fecal-oral route.

Though not chronic, hepatitis A can cause serious
illness and loss of work time as well as being a
more serious health risk to people with chronic
liver disease and weakened immune systems.
Hepatitis B virus is spread through blood or
infected body fluids, via unprotected sex, sharing
injection equipment, job-related needle sticks, and
vertical transmission from an infected mother.

Immunization disparities continue to exist in population

despite the equity achieved in early childhood rates.
Influenza and pertussis are two vaccine preventable
diseases for which Hispanic populations in the US are
particularly in need of improved coverage.
Oral care Dental Caries is one of the main diseases in
oral health. It is an infectious, transmissible disease
that is ubiquitous in all populations and is of epidemic
proportion. Dental caries is the leading chronic disease
of childhood.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the infectious diseases of
concern to underserved populations. This concern is
based on the fact that TB case rates tend to be higher
on the border and among migrating populations. TB is
also a challenging disease to treat because of the long
treatment period, which is complicated when an
individual is migrating during treatment.

Migrant Women and Reproductive Health Issues

Pregnancy
Family Planning & Contraception
Breast & Cervical Cancer
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Menopause

Migrant Women and Environmental & Occupational

Health Issues

Pesticide Exposure
Reproductive Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure

Migrant Women and Violence

Sexual & Intimate Partner Violence

Sexual harassment
Trafficking

THANK U