Background
Disparities in vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) burden and immunisation coverage between migrants and refugees and their host populations have been described in numerous countries worldwide. Effective strategies are required to reduce the health disparities and immunisation inequities experienced by migrants and refugees.

Methods
Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, we conducted a scoping review to identify available literature on interventions aimed at reducing VPD burden among migrants and refugees worldwide. We searched for relevant empirical, peer-reviewed literature published in English between 2006 and 2018 using MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, and Web of Science databases. Relevant information from the studies, including intervention type, details and outcomes, were charted in Microsoft Excel and results were summarised using a descriptive analytical method.

Results
Seventy studies met the inclusion criteria. The number of published studies increased over the years. The majority of studies were conducted in high-income countries. More studies were conducted among migrants (not including refugees) (n = 48, 66%) than specifically among refugees (n = 25, 34%). Interventions were implemented in a variety of settings, including health care (n = 31, 42%), community (n = 29, 39%), off-shore (n = 7, 9%), national (n = 4, 5%), school (n = 2, 3%), and workplace (n = 1, 1%). Studies reported interventions focused at the individual (to facilitate uptake of health services) (n = 4, 5%), community (to raise awareness) (n = 25, 34%), provider (to offer health services) (n = 12, 16%) and/or system (to increase compliance with recommendations) (n = 33, 45%) level. To be effective, interventions were designed to overcome commonly identified barriers to accessing services related to language, culture, distance and cost. Engagement with community members and organisations was an effective way to co-design interventions that address migrants’ specific needs.

Conclusions
Studies emphasised the importance of interventions that address the heterogeneity within and between migrant and refugee populations. Considerable variation in practice remains, therefore more evaluation of interventions is needed to inform policy and programme decision-making.

META DATA

Creator | Kaihanga
Charania, N.A., Gaze, N., Kung, J., Brooks, S.
Year of Creation | Tau
27/10/2020
Publisher | Kaiwhakaputa
Vaccine
Creative Commons Licence
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CC BY-NC-ND
Keywords | Kupu
Scoping review, Migrants, Refugees, Immunisation, Vaccination, Vaccine-preventable disease, Interventions, Strategies
Main Language | Reo Matua
English
Submitter's Rights | Nga Tika o te Kaituku
I am the author / creator of this resource
This Research has
been peer reviewed by academics at a university
Bibliographic Citation | Whakapuakanga

Charania, N.A., Gaze, N., Kung, J., Brooks, S. (2020). Interventions to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among migrants and refugees worldwide: A scoping review of published literature, 2006 to 2018. Vaccine, 38(46): 7217-7225.

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