International Journal of Public Health
Volume 60, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 13-20

Reviewing the topic of migration and health as a new national health target for Germany (Article)

Brzoska P. , Ellert U. , Kimil A. , Razum O. , Sass A.-C. , Salman R. , Zeeb H.*
  • a Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemnitz Technical University, Chemnitz, Germany
  • b Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
  • c Ethnomedizisches Zentrum Hannover e.V, Hannover, Germany
  • d Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
  • e Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
  • f Ethnomedizisches Zentrum Hannover e.V, Hannover, Germany
  • g Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, BIPS, Bremen, Germany, Research Focus Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: To review migration and health as a potential new national health target for Germany.Methods: The theme was evaluated along 13 standardized criteria preset by the Health TargetsNetwork. For each of the criteria an expert opinion based on an extensive (but nonsystematic)review of literature is presented.Results: Migrants differ in many health-related aspects from the majority population in Germany.Despite having some health advantages, their health status, on average, is lower thanthat of non-migrants. They also experience barriers in health care and cannotparticipate in the society on equal terms with the majority population. Differentmeasures to improve the health situation of migrants are available, but their currentimplementation in the health system is limited in several ways. Present data on thehealth of migrants is inadequate and limits migrant-sensitive health reporting.Conclusion: The evaluation of potential health targets based on standardized criteria is a valuabletool for health policy formulation. The present documentation can assist other countriesin evaluating migration and health as a national health target. It may also contribute tosimilar activities at the European level. © 2014, Swiss School of Public Health.

Author Keywords

Migration Health care utilization health care effectiveness Health targets migrantsensitivedata

Index Keywords

Ethnic Groups ethnic group Germany Health Policy Transients and Migrants Delivery of Health Care ethnology health care policy organization and management public health human Humans migration health care delivery National Health Programs
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925541461&doi=10.1007%2fs00038-014-0617-z&partnerID=40&md5=8938f46ecd50ad1e990334bcbadbee85
DOI: 10.1007/s00038-014-0617-z
ISSN: 16618556
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English