Health Policy
Volume 105, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 17-24

Migrant's access to immunization in Mediterranean Countries (Article)

Riccardo F.* , Dente M.G. , Kojouharova M. , Fabiani M. , Alfonsi V. , Kurchatova A. , Vladimirova N. , Declich S.
  • a Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS National Institute of Health, National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Viale Regina Elena, 299 00161 Rome, Italy
  • b Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS National Institute of Health, National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Viale Regina Elena, 299 00161 Rome, Italy
  • c National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department Epidemiology and CD Surveillance, 26, Yanko Sakazov Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
  • d Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS National Institute of Health, National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Viale Regina Elena, 299 00161 Rome, Italy
  • e Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS National Institute of Health, National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Viale Regina Elena, 299 00161 Rome, Italy
  • f National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department Epidemiology and CD Surveillance, 26, Yanko Sakazov Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
  • g National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department Epidemiology and CD Surveillance, 26, Yanko Sakazov Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
  • h Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS National Institute of Health, National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Viale Regina Elena, 299 00161 Rome, Italy

Abstract

Countries bordering the Mediterranean are part of a major migration system. The aim of this study is to assess the main access barriers to immunization of mobile populations in the region and propose an action based framework to decrease health access inequalities.A survey on formal and informal barriers to immunization among mobile communities was conducted among public health officials formally appointed as focal points of the EpiSouth Network by 26 Mediterranean countries. Twenty-two completed the questionnaire.Thirteen countries reported at least one vaccine preventable disease (VPD) outbreak occurring among mobile populations since 2006 even though their legal entitlement to immunization is mostly equivalent to the general population's. Informal barriers, particularly lack of information and lack of trust in authorities, and disaggregation of data collection are the major issues still to be addressed.Mediterranean countries need to fill the gap in immunization coverage among pockets of susceptible individuals in order to prevent VPD outbreaks. Having for the most part ensured free entitlement, introducing more migrant friendly approaches, increasing information availability among mobile communities, building trust in public health services and disaggregating data collection to monitor and evaluate service performance among mobile groups are key aspects to address in the region. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Author Keywords

Transients and migrants Health services accessibility Immunization EpiSouth Mediterranean Region

Index Keywords

Romania Mediterranean Region Algeria Israel Health Care Surveys Slovenia public health service psychological aspect Albania Croatia health care planning Jordan France human linguistics Turkey (republic) Bosnia and Herzegovina Cyprus Palestine Bulgaria Cross-Sectional Studies Lebanon Humans Spain Greece questionnaire cultural factor medical information Article Public Health Administration Questionnaires migration health care access Serbia Italy Malta Transients and Migrants vaccination Tunisia immunization Health Services Accessibility Morocco public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84858282231&doi=10.1016%2fj.healthpol.2012.02.004&partnerID=40&md5=da6cab9c8485f323e526138df7a41088
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2012.02.004
ISSN: 01688510
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English