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IJERPH
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Global Migrants and Refugees: Recent Trends, Health Inequities and Aging
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Global Migrants and Refugees: Recent Trends, Health Inequities and Aging

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 5297

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lillian Mwanri

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Guest Editor
Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide Campus, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Interests: migration and migrants health; health inequities; communicable and non-communicable disease; social determinants of health; mixed methods research; global and public health in general
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nnaemeka Meribe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Politics Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Interests: media and health; migrants mental health; media and disability; media and migration; media and climate change; communication studies; qualitative research
Dr. William Mude

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Cairns, QLD 4701, Australia
Interests: migrant/refugee health; health equity; communicable and non-communicable diseases; epidemiology; social determinants of health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Migrant and refugee populations are steadily growing, diversifying and aging. The 2022 World Migration Report stated that international migrants comprise 3.6% of the total global population. From 1990 to 2020, this population has increased from 128 to 281 million people. These migrant groups are not only growing in number and diversity, but a significant proportion are also aging. Although migrant populations are known to be significantly resilient and generally of good health, especially in their initial settlement, often migration and settlement challenges persist for generations, resulting in complex and inequitable communities. Research is essential to provide evidence that informs local, national and global policy and practice drivers for better health outcomes.

This Special Issue of The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on global migration trends, migrants’ and refugees’ health, health inequities and aging.

Original research papers, reviews, case reports and conference papers are welcome in this Special Issue. Articles dealing with new approaches to address issues, including migration (opportunities, challenges and inequities), migrants’ health, settlement and migrant health care service access, and specific migrants’ sub-groups, including older people, will be accepted. Other manuscript types that will be accepted include methodological papers, position papers, brief reports and commentaries. We encourage manuscripts from different disciplines, including public health, social and behavioral sciences, international law and human rights, settlement services, anthropology, epidemiology, psychology and demography.

Dr. Lillian Mwanri
Dr. Nnaemeka Meribe
Dr. William Mude
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • global migrant trends
  • migrant health and health equities
  • mental health
  • population aging
  • human rights and international law

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1017 KiB  
Article
A Conceptual Model of Refugee Family Dynamics: A Study with Sri Lankan Tamils
by Miriam Kuttikat, Marianne B. Lund, David Chan and Indranil Sahoo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020169 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 528
Abstract
Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have endured over four decades of protracted displacement in southern India. This paper synthesizes findings from four studies conducted between 2005 and 2018 among refugees residing in the Gummidipoondi and Trichy refugee camps in the state of Tamil Nadu, [...] Read more.
Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have endured over four decades of protracted displacement in southern India. This paper synthesizes findings from four studies conducted between 2005 and 2018 among refugees residing in the Gummidipoondi and Trichy refugee camps in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Framed by a Community Based Participatory Research, in collaboration with the Organization for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation (OfERR) and Community Advisory Board, these studies aimed to investigate the challenges related to migration stressors, mental health, family dynamics, and resource utilization of the Sri Lankan refugees living in India. The association of Psychological Distress and Migration Stress (PDMS) study examined migration stressors influencing psychological distress among refugees. The intergenerational Conflict and Community Readiness (ICCR study) assessed community readiness for repatriation and intergenerational conflict employing semi-structured qualitative interviews. The Family Dynamics (FD) mixed-method study investigated longitudinal associations between migration stressors, resource utilization, family dynamics, and health outcomes among Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. The Parenting Processes and Intervention Development (PPID) Study incorporated perspectives of community health workers through qualitative exploratory research. Integrating these findings, the research developed (1) Conceptual Model of Refugee Family Dynamics and (2) Framework for Refugee Health Intervention. These models provide a culturally sensitive framework for future interventions to improve family well-being among refugee populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Migrants and Refugees: Recent Trends, Health Inequities and Aging)
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17 pages, 2807 KiB  
Article
Non-Communicable Diseases Among Forcibly Displaced People: A Systematic Mapping Review
by Kyohei Nishino, Tshewang Gyeltshen and Mahbubur Rahman
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010063 - 5 Jan 2025
Viewed by 527
Abstract
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a serious global health challenge, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately affected. These challenges are further exacerbated in humanitarian settings, particularly among forcibly displaced people (FDP). Despite the critical need [...] Read more.
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a serious global health challenge, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately affected. These challenges are further exacerbated in humanitarian settings, particularly among forcibly displaced people (FDP). Despite the critical need for NCD management in these populations, their epidemiology remains poorly understood. This highlights an urgent research priority to address knowledge gaps and improve their health outcomes. Methods: In this research, we conducted a systematic mapping review to aggregate and categorize existing publications on NCDs among FDP. Literature searches were performed across five electronic databases, namely PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Global Index Medicus, and Google Scholar, using predefined criteria related to target populations, research domains, and study design. The evidence was systematically coded and analyzed to assess the current research status on NCDs among FDP. Results: A total of 310 publications were included in the review. The findings indicate an increasing trend in publications on NCDs among FDP since 2014. In contrast, most studies revealed low evidence levels. Disease-specific research primarily focused on diabetes mellitus (DM) (26.4%) and hypertension (19.8%), addressing health status (43.1%) and health policy (32.0%). Studies mainly concentrated on Syrian (45.5%) and Palestinian (18.9%) refugees, with limited research on other countries and types of FDP. Funding sources were mostly governmental (23.1%) and philanthropic foundations (17.6%), although many studies were unfunded (26.2%). Conclusions: This is the first systematic mapping review on NCDs among FDP. The findings revealed both current knowledge areas of focus and gaps. Although the research quantity has increased, the evidence quality remains low. The retrieved studies predominantly focused on DM and hypertension among Syrian and Palestinian refugees, causing significant knowledge gaps regarding other geographical areas and types of FDP. Future research should prioritize higher-quality studies, expand the geographical scope, and include diverse types of FDP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Migrants and Refugees: Recent Trends, Health Inequities and Aging)
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12 pages, 442 KiB  
Article
Intention to Use Primary Healthcare Services among South–South Migrants
by Consuelo Cruz-Riveros, Alfonso Urzúa, Carolina Lagos and Evelyn Parada
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091258 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1108
Abstract
(1) Background: To evaluate a model based on the right-to-health approach, considering the impact of associated factors on the future utilization of primary healthcare services among international migrants in Chile. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to survey 499 South American migrants [...] Read more.
(1) Background: To evaluate a model based on the right-to-health approach, considering the impact of associated factors on the future utilization of primary healthcare services among international migrants in Chile. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to survey 499 South American migrants residing in Chile. Ad-hoc questionnaires were used to assess their experiences related to the right to health, perceived discrimination, income, education, length of residence, age, marital status, gender, migration status, among others. Correlation analyses were conducted, followed by path analysis with significant variables to assess the fit of two models. (3) Results: Ten variables were identified as significant for path analysis. Among the two evaluated models, the final model identified six variables with significant direct and indirect effects. Among them, the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of healthcare services were positively associated with the future intention to use them. Additionally, perceived racial and ethnic discrimination also had a positive effect on the intention to use healthcare services, suggesting a possible adaptive response to adversity, exhibiting acceptable goodness-of-fit indices (χ2 =241,492; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.913; TLI = 0.82; RMSEA = 0.062; SRMR = 0.05). (4) Conclusions: While the initial model provides valuable insights, it is essential to broaden the analysis to include other factors influencing the specific context of international migrants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Migrants and Refugees: Recent Trends, Health Inequities and Aging)
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15 pages, 333 KiB  
Article
Parental Migration and the Social and Mental Well-Being Challenges among Indonesian Left-Behind Children: A Qualitative Study
by Nelsensius Klau Fauk, Alfonsa Liquory Seran, Paul Aylward, Lillian Mwanri and Paul Russell Ward
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060793 - 18 Jun 2024
Viewed by 2425
Abstract
Parental labour migration, of either one or both parents, has been associated with various challenges among left-behind children (LBC). However, there is a limited understanding of the LBC’s own views and experiences of social and mental well-being and how the new daily life [...] Read more.
Parental labour migration, of either one or both parents, has been associated with various challenges among left-behind children (LBC). However, there is a limited understanding of the LBC’s own views and experiences of social and mental well-being and how the new daily life circumstances they encounter following their parents’ migration impact them. This study aimed to understand the influence of parental migration and its aftermath on the social and mental well-being of adolescents (referred to as LBC) in two rural districts in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative design, data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with LBC (n = 24) aged 14 to 18 years, recruited using the snowball sampling technique. Data were thematically analysed, guided by a qualitative data analysis framework. The findings showed that parental migration negatively impacted the social well-being of LBC. This impact was reflected in negative labelling from friends and changes in familial roles which influenced their social interactions and activities with peers. Parental migration was also associated with challenges to the mental well-being of LBC. These manifested in the LBC experiencing fractured emotional bonds, leading to negative emotions, including stress, anxiety, sadness, depression, frustration, loss of motivation, and self-imposed isolation, which were associated with their parents’ migration and abrupt disruptions in parent–child communication. The transition to new life situations with caregivers after parental migration and the dynamics within the caregivers’ households were additional factors that detrimentally affected their mental well-being. Unmet basic needs and educational needs due to financial hardships faced by mothers and caregivers further exacerbated mental health challenges for the children. The findings indicate the importance and improvement of policies and interventions in Indonesia (e.g., counselling services, non-cash food assistance, family hope program, direct cash assistance) that cover and address the diverse needs of mothers or caregivers and the LBC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Migrants and Refugees: Recent Trends, Health Inequities and Aging)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Addressing mental health of aging adults with a refugee life experience: Opportunities and challenges using a community-based participatory research approach
Authors: Rochelle L. Frounfelker 1; Tej Mishra 2; Puja Thapa 1,2
Affiliation: 1 Department of Population Health, College of Health, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; 2 Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA 17111, USA
Abstract: Older refugees may be at heightened risk for mental health problems compared to younger adults given risk factors associated with both aging and exposure to conflict-related stressors. To date there has been limited investigation into the unique mental health challenges of this population and minimal attention on developing and adapting mental health interventions that meet their unique needs. This paper discusses the potential of using a community-based participatory research approach (CBPR) to address mental health disparities of older refugees, using a case example of a research program focused on the mental health of older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience resettled in North America. We highlight some of the unique challenges of using a CBPR approach with older refugees based on our experiences over the past 7 years, including magnified cultural and linguistic barriers as well as gatekeeping by younger members of the community. We also discuss opportunities such as cultural preservation and raising intergenerational awareness of the community’s refugee history. Finally, we outline best practices for researchers and communities interested in using a CBPR approach to research with aging refugee adults, including outreach and engagement with both older adults and their family members, inclusion and training of younger adults in data collection and analysis, and identifying knowledge dissemination activities that promote cultural preservation and celebration.

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