BMC Public Health
Volume 19, Issue 1, 2019

Migrant health research in the Republic of Ireland: A scoping review (Article) (Open Access)

Villarroel N. , Hannigan A. , Severoni S. , Puthoopparambil S. , MacFarlane A.*
  • a Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick Campus, Plassey Park Road, Castletroy Co., Limerick, V94T9PX, Ireland
  • b Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick Campus, Plassey Park Road, Castletroy Co., Limerick, V94T9PX, Ireland, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
  • c Migration and Health Programme, Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being, WHO Regional Office for Europe, København, Denmark
  • d Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick Campus, Plassey Park Road, Castletroy Co., Limerick, V94T9PX, Ireland, Migration and Health Programme, Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being, WHO Regional Office for Europe, København, Denmark, International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  • e Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick Campus, Plassey Park Road, Castletroy Co., Limerick, V94T9PX, Ireland, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Abstract

Background: Migration to European countries has increased in number and diversity in recent years. Factors such as access to healthcare, language barriers and legal status can impact the health outcomes of migrant groups. However, little is known about the evidence base on the health status of migrants in the Republic of Ireland. Our aim was to scope existing peer-reviewed research on the health of migrants in Ireland and identify any gaps in the evidence. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed research on the health of migrants in the Republic of Ireland. Eleven electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed, empirical articles published between 2001 and 2017. Search terms were adapted from a World Health Organisation review. Findings were analysed using the 2016 World Health Organisation Strategy and Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the World Health Organisation European region, which outlines nine strategic areas that require collaborative action. Results: Of 9396 articles retrieved, 80 met inclusion criteria, with the majority (81%) published since 2009. More than half of the studies had a quantitative design (65%). Migrants studied came from Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa and included labour migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Most studies related to two World Health Organisation strategic areas; 4: "achieving public health preparedness and ensuring an effective response", and 5: "strengthening health systems and their resilience". Conclusion: There is growing attention to migrant health in Ireland with a balance of qualitative and quantitative research. While much of the identified research is relevant to three of the World Health Organisation strategic areas, there are significant gaps in the other six areas. The study design could be replicated in other countries to examine and inform migrant health research. © 2019 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Scoping review Immigrant World Health Organization Health Ireland

Index Keywords

Biomedical Research medical research immigrant world health organization Eastern Europe Humans Africa Asia Transients and Migrants attention systematic review Article asylum seeker public health human Ireland migration human experiment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85063270590&doi=10.1186%2fs12889-019-6651-2&partnerID=40&md5=e6957138af6fbe5eb9de9910b90e67a2
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6651-2
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English