Framework for refugee and migrant health research in the WHO European Region

Abstract

Migration is a longstanding, growing global phenomenon. As a social determinant of health, migration can lead to health inequities between people on the move and host populations. Thus, it is imperative that there is a coordinated effort to advance migration-and health-related goals. WHO has a specific remit to support evidence-based decision-making in its Member States. As part of that remit, WHO Europe presents this Framework for Refugee and Migrant Health Research in the WHO European Region. It is designed as a starting point for debating and analysing a broad range of options and approaches to help inform a WHO global research agenda on health and migration. This is important because refugee and migrant health research is a complex interdisciplinary field that is expanding in a fast-changing socio-political environment. The Framework is intended for all stakeholders involved: academic, civil society organisations, refugees, migrants, policy-makers, healthcare providers, educators and funders. It is developed by academics in consultation with these stakeholder groups. It reflects on three specific interrelated dynamics in research practice. These are (i) research prioritisation; (ii) study samples and (iii) research design. The Framework offers recommendations to consider for each one of these. It elucidates the value of involving refugees and migrants in research and research agendas and the need to develop an ecosystem that will support and sustain participatory, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and inter-sectoral projects.

Antecedents and Consequences of Health Literacy among Refugees and Migrants during the First Two Years of COVID-19: A Scoping Review

“…The co-design of the research question with refugees and migrants (https://www. irishworldacademy.ie/part-im/ (accessed on 1 February 2024)), which is in line with recommendations for the field [84], is a key strength of this study. Other strengths include the use of the updated scoping review method [27], collaborating with a librarian, and incorporating a health literacy conceptual framework [11].…”

“…This study highlights the importance of developing participatory, community-based peer support approaches to designing and disseminating inclusive health literacy interventions. These recommendations align with the recent CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guiding principles to promoting an equity-centered approach to health literacy, and recommendations in the WHO European region [83,84]. Collaboratively engaging with refugee and migrant communities in co-creating targeted health literacy interventions ensures the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the intervention.…”

“…Secondly, the limited, unclear, and interchangeable use of refugee and migrant definitions across sources of evidence, and sometimes even within the individual source of evidence, meant it was not possible to map this data across evidence. This is an issue that requires attention in the field more broadly [84,86]. Finally, data about country of origin, length of stay in the host country, and residency type were not extracted, and these would be worth close examination in future studies, given that these factors do impact health literacy among refugees and migrants.…”

Bridging the gap: Using CHNRI to align migration health research priorities in India with local expertise and global perspectives

“…The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this disconnect, where universal precautionary and relief measures adopted by national governments failed to account for the health and social care needs of mobile populations in resource-poor contexts. Recognising this disconnect in global discourse from regional/local migration specificities and mobility trends, experts have called for the development of and investment into a clearly defined migration and health research agenda to inform migrant-aware policies [2,[19][20][21][22].…”

"Fast food psychology" or serious support: Brazilian migrant women talk about their experiences with digital tools for mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…Similarly, research advises how to make public health policies and decisions that are more equitable and inclusive for migrants in their host countries (Goldenberg et al, 2023;MacFarlane et al, 2022). One important suggestion from research is to make sure country policies abide by the universal right to health as per the United Nations resolution 101 (Goldenberg et al, 2023).…”