Migrants in Europe face a disproportionate burden of HIV infection; however, it remains unclear if this can be prevented through public health interventions in host countries. We undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate post-migration HIV acquisition (PMHA) as a proportion of all HIV cases in European migrants. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, HMIC, and Cochrane Library were searched with terms capturing ‘HIV’, ‘migration’, and ‘Europe’. Data relating to the proportion of HIV acquired following migration were extracted and random-effects model (REM) meta-analysis was undertaken to calculate a pooled estimate for the proportion of PMHA in European countries. Subgroup meta-analysis was undertaken for PMHA by migrant demographic characteristics and host country. Fifteen articles were included for systematic review following retrieval and screening of 2,320 articles. A total of 47,182 migrants in 11 European countries were included in REM meta-analysis, showing an overall PMHA proportion of 0.30 (95% CI: 0.23–0.38). Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in PMHA between host country and migrant demographic characteristics. This work illustrates that migrants continue to be at high risk of HIV acquisition in Europe. This indicates the need for targeted screening and HIV prevention interventions, ensuring resources are appropriately directed to combat the spread of HIV.

Recent work on crime fiction has highlighted the genre’s increasingly transnational focus and the growing number of migrant detectives. Matsotsi, a little-known Nyanja text published in Zambia in the early 1960s, provides a much earlier example of this figure in Sergeant Balala, an Angolan detective fighting to contain the tsotsi menace in Johannesburg, South Africa. Matsotsi, however, does more than point to cross-border detection as a means of elucidating transnational relationships. Shonga and Zulu’s text manipulates the genres of the detective novel and the bildungsroman to tell a story about the relationships among the individual, the state, and the wider region at a key moment in southern African history, when Zambia and Malawi were on the cusp of independence. Although African language writing has often been considered too localized to be used for nationalist purposes, here it is mobilized for the purpose of state-making in a transnational context.

Forcibly displaced populations are among the most vulnerable groups in disasters. They experience poorer health conditions compared with nondisplaced individuals. However, a clear picture is lacking regarding the overall health problems encountered by disaster-induced mid- to long-term displaced people. This study investigated these disorders prevalence and identified their correlates among long-settled displaced populations worldwide. The current scoping review follows the PRISMA-ScR guidelines; a systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL and included original peer-reviewed studies, commentary, reviews, and grey literature published in English between January 1990 to June 2022. In the thematic and content analysis, the authors applied the narrative review approach to identify themes and sub-themes. Forty-eight documents were identified as fully relevant to this study. The largest number of published papers were from Asia, followed by the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. IDPs in developed countries were the most researched populations. Human-made disasters were addressed by 89% of the included studies. The four main thematic categories included were “physical health,” “mental health,” “inadequate facilities,” and “lack of healthy behaviour.” The worsening of noncommunicable diseases had the highest prevalence, followed by communicable diseases. Due to their condition, forcibly displaced migrants face a triple burden of communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases such as mental health issues. Health-related research and policy need to consider the links among disasters, health problems, and forced migration as a determinant of health in the new era of climate change-driven displacements.

Community-based psychosocial interventions are key elements of mental health and psychosocial support; yet evidence regarding their effectiveness and implementation in humanitarian settings is limited. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness, acceptability, feasibility and safety of conducting a cluster randomized trial evaluating two versions of a group psychosocial intervention. Nine community clusters in Ecuador and Panamá were randomized to receive the standard version of the Entre Nosotras intervention, a community-based group psychosocial intervention co-designed with community members, or an enhanced version of Entre Nosotras that integrated a stress management component. In a sample of 225 refugees, migrants and host community women, we found that both versions were safe, acceptable and appropriate. Training lay facilitators to deliver the intervention was feasible. Challenges included slow recruitment related to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, high attrition due to population mobility and other competing priorities, and mixed psychometric performance of psychosocial outcome measures. Although the intervention appeared promising, a definitive cluster randomized comparative effectiveness trial requires further adaptations to the research protocol. Within this pilot study we identified strategies to overcome these challenges that may inform adaptations. This comparative effectiveness design may be a model for identifying effective components of psychosocial interventions.

The number of UMY in Spain is increasing, since the early 1990s, mostly coming from the Maghreb, although the number of those coming from different sub-Saharan African countries has gradually increased. Most of them leave their countries fleeing poverty, violence, and in search of better opportunities. They may be influenced by traumatic experiences and social stressors that can lead to emotional distress and mental health problems. They have particular needs and characteristics, so the local Child Protection Systems need to adapt their procedures to facilitate the youngsters’ social Integration and psychosocial development. This presentation will describe an ongoing project being carried out in Catalonia, the main objective is to guarantee the right to mental health of UMY in the Protection System through culturally competent biopsychosocial care, and to effectively coordinate care between the public mental health network and the Child Protection System. Finally, through training and the acquisition of competencies, the aim is to avoid burnout in professionals who care for these youths on the front line. The approach is consistent with the cultural consultation models developed in Montreal and London with the goal of providing structural support for localized and culturally competent responses. This project, to be developed over two years, has four main subprojects: 1. On-line training for professionals in “Cultural competence in mental health and psychosocial intervention”. 2. Training of “peer” UMY as “Community Mental Health Agents”. 3. Creation and implementation of multidisciplinary groups of psychosocial intervention. 4. Culturally competent psychiatric and psychological assessment.

The Ukrainian refugee crisis highlights the many issues associated with trauma, distress, mental and physical health, culturally competent assessments, and meaningful support and interventions. This crisis requires international support and a global response, as hosting countries have specific competencies and capacities. The authors hope that the groundswell of international concern over the crisis in Ukraine will lead not only to a comprehensive response to the needs of refugees from that country but also to a recognition of the needs of other asylum seekers and refugees and to our collective moral obligation to address those needs equitably.

This study examined reasons for return migration among Lithuanian migrant home care workers who provided care to older adults abroad. In total, 13 interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of returnees. Using constant comparison, three major themes were identified. The first theme described the undocumented nature of the job as a reason to return. The emotional consequences of the job as well as its physically demanding aspects also were portrayed. The third theme addressed the increased awareness to possible losses and care needs brought by the job. Our findings stress the importance of the job characteristics of the worker as a push factor that results in the return of migrant workers to their home. The importance of the documentation status of the job and its precarious nature are discussed.