BMC Public Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2018

Migration and health: A global public health research priority (Article) (Open Access)

Wickramage K.* , Vearey J. , Zwi A.B. , Robinson C. , Knipper M.
  • a Migration Health Division, International Organization for Migration, United Nations Migration Agency, Geneva, Switzerland
  • b African Centre for Migration and Society, University of the Witwatersrand, Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh, PO Box 76, Wits, 2050, South Africa
  • c Health, Rights and Development (HEARDatUNSW), School of Social Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
  • d Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
  • e Institute of the History of Medicine, University Justus Liebig Giessen, Iheringstr. 6, Giessen, 35392, Germany

Abstract

Background: With 244 million international migrants, and significantly more people moving within their country of birth, there is an urgent need to engage with migration at all levels in order to support progress towards global health and development targets. In response to this, the 2nd Global Consultation on Migration and Health- held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in February 2017 - facilitated discussions concerning the role of research in supporting evidence-informed health responses that engage with migration. Conclusions: Drawing on discussions with policy makers, research scholars, civil society, and United Nations agencies held in Colombo, we emphasize the urgent need for quality research on international and domestic (in-country) migration and health to support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs aim to 'leave no-one behind' irrespective of their legal status. An ethically sound human rights approach to research that involves engagement across multiple disciplines is required. Researchers need to be sensitive when designing and disseminating research findings as data on migration and health may be misused, both at an individual and population level. We emphasize the importance of creating an 'enabling environment' for migration and health research at national, regional and global levels, and call for the development of meaningful linkages - such as through research reference groups - to support evidence-informed inter-sectoral policy and priority setting processes. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Health Global health Migration Research

Index Keywords

sound sustainable development scientist health care policy human medical research United Nations research priority Sri Lanka human rights Humans migrant consultation drawing Article legislation and jurisprudence human experiment migration global health Health Policy Transients and Migrants Delivery of Health Care public health health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85051220050&doi=10.1186%2fs12889-018-5932-5&partnerID=40&md5=1f1dcb66a0e4fa4c67bb855c6cdd596b
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5932-5
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English