Table 1 Problem areas and possible interventions to improve migrant and minority health
From: Migrant and minority health in Europe: the way forward
Problem area | Specific problem | Example policy intervention |
|---|---|---|
Knowledge gap in migrant health | Policymakers, supervisory staff, and direct care givers lack training on migrant health issues. Community health workers are not adequately prepared to address the unique needs of refugees and their families. | Provide training to public health leaders, including policymakers, supervisory staff, direct care workers, and community health workers Consult migrants and refugees themselves about how best to sustain and promote migrant health |
Basic needs provision | Inadequate and/or deteriorating shelter, sanitation, waste disposal, and clean water facilities | Increase monitoring of water supply and sanitary facilities Increase repair and supply of facilities as needed and feed this information back into plans for preparedness and response |
Nutritional security | Inadequate caloric intake of healthy protein, carbohydrates and fats with natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants | Ensure provision of vitamin- and mineral-fortified foods Distribute vitamin and mineral supplements, particularly for the most vulnerable migrants including children, pregnant women, and the elderly |
Infectious disease control | Changes in the risk, prevalence, and incidence portfolios of infectious diseases, including Hepatitis (A, B, C), HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, influenza, and other sexually transmitted diseases | Promote screening, vaccination, and treatment among migrant populations Facilitate better health record keeping for migrants Harmonize vaccination policy across the European Region |
Mental health provision | Increase in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among migrant populations | Access to use of mental health services Education, self-help group activities, surveys, and specific interventions |
Access to medical care | Emergency care Lack of access to regular medical care, often resulting in an increase in demand for emergency services | Improve migrant access to the health system Curative and preventive medicine interventions |
Non-communicable disease | Increased vulnerability to acquiring non-communicable diseases as a result of the migrant journey | Promote increased education and preventive screenings Improve health monitoring of non-communicable diseases among migrants, particularly through improved health record keeping (both e-records and hand carried printed records) |
Maternal and child health | Managing changes in risk for nutritional disorders (including problems with breastfeeding), exposure to violence and trafficking, and other factors affecting women’s sexual and reproductive health | Promote micronutrient-fortified (e.g., vitamins A, B, C, D, iodine, iron, folic acid) food staples (e.g., flour, milk, salt) Enhance protection against female genital mutilation, sexual exploitation, and child marriages at all stages of the migrant journey Promote migrant and refugee education programs focused on adapting to norms and standards of host countries Availability and access for pre-kindergarten programs, open public spaces for children’s play, family literacy programs |
Education and free time | Increased demand on schooling and education systems for boys and girls | Ensure developmental and intellectual stimulation for children at all stages of development along the migrant journey Improve child development and health monitoring for migrants Semi-structured active free time for play, visiting host-heritage sites (museums, galleries, concerts), organizing local tours, holidays, etc. |
People with disabilities | Increased vulnerabilities along the migrant journey, including exposure to violence | Improve health monitoring of migrants with disabilities through improved record keeping Promote access to health, education, and employment services for those with disabilities |
LGBT health | Increased vulnerability to depression, substance abuse, and acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections | Eliminate discrimination and promote equal access to health services regardless of sexual orientation Provide education of risks and preventative interventions, both along the migrant journey and within the host country |