Examining health and social care in pre and post migration environments

Citation

Watters, C. (2012), "Examining health and social care in pre and post migration environments", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 8 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijmhsc.2012.54808baa.001

Examining health and social care in pre and post migration environments

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Volume 8, Issue 2

Many of the papers in previous editions of this journal have highlighted problems that arise at the interfaces between migrant populations and health and social care services. Appropriate attention has been directed at critical evaluation of the extent to which migrants are entitled to health and social care services and the related, but distinctive question of migrant access to services. Much of the focus of these studies has been directed at policy and practices within what can broadly be termed receiving societies. Less attention has been directed towards health and social care problems within migrant communities and, in the light of this deficiency, some of the papers here offer a welcome corrective.

Ayers and colleagues from Arizona State University address the health implications of risky sexual behaviours among adolescents migrating from Mexico to the USA. In doing so they shift the lens from post-migration behaviours to pre-migration behavious. They argue that the latter should be encompassed in research and should constitute a more significant orientation in health services. Tse and colleagues from the University of Hong Kong highlight another problematic area focusing on the implications of a New Zealand gaming and betting survey. These authors work highlight the challenging nature of research on migrant communities health and social care that may inadvertently reinforce prejudice. However, the implication of ignoring difficult areas such as the impact of risky sexual behaviours in pre-migration environments or gambling in migrant communities, is that migrant communities may not have access to timely and appropriate services to address these problems.

Pithara and colleagues address the problems of service provision in examining the healthcare situation for non-European Union migrants in Cyprus. They point to the importance of recognizing that migrants access to services and service effectiveness is embedded in political, social and economic structures. A wider understanding of the interpenetration of these factors is necessary to address migrants health needs effectively. Mwanri and colleagues offer a welcome contribution towards addressing how such needs may be met, at least in part. Drawing on their work in Australia with sub-Saharan African migrants, they highlight the critical role of empowerment strategies that encompass capacity building, social capital and community connectivity.

Charles Watters