ISSOP position statement on migrant child health

Abstract

Greater numbers of children are on the move than ever before. In 2015, the number of forcibly displaced people across the globe reached 65.3 million. Of the more than 1 million migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees who arrived in Europe in 2015, nearly one third were children, and 90,000 of these children were unaccompanied.Child migrants are among the most vulnerable, even after arriving at their destination. The health of migrant children is related to their health status before their journey, the conditions during their journey and at their destination, and the physical and mental health of their caregivers. These children may have experienced numerous forms of trauma including war, violence, separation from family, and exploitation. They may suffer from malnutrition and communicable diseases including vaccine-preventable diseases. Pregnant women, newborns, and unaccompanied minors are particularly vulnerable groups. Social isolation is a major risk factor for all migrant children that compound other health risks even after settlement in their new home. Lack of health information, language, and cultural differences serve as major barriers to adequate, timely, and appropriate healthcare. In spite the challenges they face, migrant children demonstrate remarkable resilience that can be nurtured to promote good mental and physical health.Migrant children, irrespective of their legal status, are entitled to healthcare of the same standard provided to children in the resident population, as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is imperative that the health sector includes informed health workers who are able to identify the health risks and needs of these children and provide culturally competent care. In order to achieve this and promote the rights of migrant children to optimal health and well-being, ISSOP recommends that• Programmes and activities designed to promote and protect migrant child health and well-being must be designed in collaboration with all sectors involved, including the education and social sectors, and should always include the voices of migrant children and their families.• Health services should be readily available and easily accessible for preventive, maintenance, and curative care regardless of the child's legal status. Care should be of the same standard as care provided to the local population.• Health information should be provided that is culturally sensitive and readily available in a language that migrant children and families can understand.• Medical interpreters and cultural mediators should be available during healthcare encounters, and personnel working with migrants should receive training in cultural competence.• Health professionals should not participate in age determination until methods with acceptable scientific and ethical standards have been developed.• Professionals working with migrant children and families should have access to emotional support services.• Evidence-based best practices in the care of migrant children should be identifie...

Morbidity profile and sociodemographic characteristics of unaccompanied refugee minors seen by paediatric practices between October 2014 and February 2016 in Bavaria, Germany

“…in the experience of physical maltreatment in 63.3% of cases as compared to 23.2%, respectively [ 35 ]. URM have to travel alone or get separated from their caregivers during the flight and are in consequence particularly vulnerable through exposure to dangerous situations and abuse [ 36 , 37 ]. Previous studies mentioned that URM are more likely to show self-harm or suicidal behaviour than no-URM [ 38 ].…”

Impact of the Refugee Crisis on the Greek Healthcare System: A Long Road to Ithaca

“…It is well established that more children from Middle Eastern countries, such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran, arrived in 2014–2015 than in 2011–2013. On the other hand, the absolute numbers of refugee children from Afghanistan and Pakistan decreased significantly within this period [56,57,58,59,60,61]. …”

Infectious Diseases among Refugee Children

“…In conflict zones and complex humanitarian emergency settings, the implementation of mass immunization campaigns has resulted in controlling the outbreaks of wild polio virus and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus infections, suggesting that innovative approaches to vaccinate children on the move are needed [127,128]. Cost-effective interventions to address health care disparities and provide high-quality primary and secondary health care for large numbers of recently arrived migrants remains a major priority for many high-income countries [10,11,28,[129][130][131][132].…”