1. Migrant Health Research in the Republic of Ireland:
MERH th May 2018
Nazmy Villarroel, Ailish Hannigan, Soorej Jose Puthoopparambil, Santino Severoni, Anne MacFarlane
Migrant Health Research in the Republic of Ireland:
a scoping review

2. Background
Source:

3. Background
One in six (17%) of Ireland’s population is foreign-born (Census 2016), the fifth highest rate in the EU-28.
In 2016, 612,018 (13%) people living in Ireland spoke a language other than Irish or English at home, an increase of 19.1% since 2011.
Factors such as language barriers, access to healthcare and legal status can impact the health outcomes of migrant groups.
Little is known about the evidence base on the health of migrants in Ireland.

4. Objective
To scope existing peer-reviewed research on the health of migrants in the Republic of Ireland and identify any gaps in the evidence.

5. Methods
Scoping review framework of Arksey and O’Malley (2005) with modification suggested by Levac, Colquhoun and O’Brien (2010) was used.
Eleven online databases were searched for articles published between 2001 – using search terms adapted from a WHO HEN review on migrant health (2016).
Results were analysed using the WHO Strategy and action-plan for refugee and migrant health (2016) as a framework, which outlines nine strategic areas that require collaborative action.

6. Strategy and action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region
Establishing a framework for collaborative action
Advocating for the right to health of refugees
Addressing the social determinants of health
Achieving public health preparedness and ensuring an effective response
Strengthening health systems and their resilience
Preventing communicable diseases
Preventing and reducing the risks posed by non-communicable diseases
Ensuring ethical and effective health screening and assessment
Improving health information and communication

7. Duplicates removed (N=1570) Records screened for eligibility (N=7799)
Results
Records identified through database searching (N=9369)
Records excluded with reasons (N=7719)
Not on migrant health (N=3350)
Migrant studies countries other than ROI (N=2283)
Records inaccessible and additional duplicates (N=666)
No primary data or medical case report (N=1420)
Duplicates removed (N=1570)
Records screened for eligibility (N=7799)
Studies included (N=80)

8. Results
The majority of studies (n=65, 81 %) were published since 2009.
Migrants studied came from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa and included labour migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
The majority of studies (77%) had a primary focus on migrant health.

9. Results Continued
Two thirds of the studies had a quantitative design (n=53, 66%).
Three-quarters of the studies provided a description of the migrant population groups (working definitions). With only 9% providing a reference.
The focus of a quarter of the studies was on maternal health (n=21, 26%).
three

10. Results
The strategy and action plan has the following nine strategic areas:
Establishing a framework for collaborative action
Advocating for the right to health of refugees
Addressing the social determinants of health
Achieving public health preparedness and ensuring an effective response
Strengthening health systems and their resilience
Preventing communicable diseases
Preventing and reducing the risks posed by non-communicable diseases
Ensuring ethical and effective health screening and assessment
Improving health information and communication

11. Results: Examples Strategic Area 8: Strategic Area 4:
Studies addressed the social determinants of health.
Employment was the focus of the studies:
Work-related injuries in migrant workers.
Experience of migrant workers in the healthcare system.
Strategic Area 4:
Studies mostly in the context of providing evidence on the health needs of migrants (e.g. focused on maternal or child health).
Strategic Area 6:
Studies focus on HIV, TB and malaria.
Strategic Area 8:
Studies addressed health screening, all in the context of communicable diseases.
Strategic Area 9:
PR methods to involve migrants and other stakeholders in a dialogue to develop a guideline for effective cross-cultural communication in general practice consultations
Strategic Area 7:
Studies focused on the risk of non-communicable diseases. Eg. nutrition and alcohol use in pregnant women
Strategic Area 5:
studies addressed the health system’s capacity to respond to the needs of migrants and refugees.

12. Conclusions
There is growing attention to migrant health research in Ireland with a balance of qualitative and quantitative research.
There is reasonable attention to the diversity of migrant groups in the literature.
The majority of the studies provided a working definitions
of the migrant population.

13. Conclusions
While some research is relevant to WHO strategic areas, there are significant gaps.
The results can be used to shape the migrant health research agenda in Ireland.
The study design (using WHO-SAAP) could be replicated in other countries in the European region to examine and inform migrant health research.

14. References
Hannigan A, O'Donnell P, O'Keeffe M, MacFarlane A. How do Variations in Definitions of “Migrant” and their Application Influence the Access of Migrants to Health Care Services? 2016.
WHO. Strategy and action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO, EUROPE RCF; Contract No: EUR/RC66/8
Arksey H, O'Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International journal of social research methodology. 2005;8(1):19-32.
Levac D, Colquhoun H, O'Brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implementation Science. 2010;5(1):69.

15. Migrant Health Research in the Republic of Ireland:
MERH th May 2018
Nazmy Villarroel, Ailish Hannigan, Soorej Jose Puthoopparambil, Santino Severoni, Anne MacFarlane
Migrant Health Research in the Republic of Ireland:
a scoping review