Global inequalities in assessment of migrant and ethnic variations in health

R Bhopal; S Rafnsson

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2011.11.016

Global inequalities in assessment of migrant and ethnic variations in health

Public Health. 2012 Mar;126(3):241-244. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2011.11.016. Epub 2012 Feb 18.

Authors

R Bhopal¹, S Rafnsson²

Affiliations

¹ Edinburgh Ethnicity and Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK. Electronic address: Raj.Bhopal@ed.ac.uk.
² Edinburgh Ethnicity and Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK.

PMID: 22342833
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2011.11.016

Abstract

This paper briefly recaps the role of migration in creating multi-ethnic societies, the main types of migration and/or ethnicity studies, and the power and potential of such studies. Next, the paper examines whether opportunities are being grasped globally, and whether information systems exist to grasp these opportunities. The paper concludes that there are massive global inequalities in the use of migration status and ethnicity as epidemiological variables, to the detriment of global health. A strategic approach to improve matters is outlined.

MeSH terms

Emigration and Immigration*
Epidemiology
Ethnicity
Global Health
Health Status Disparities*
Humans
Population Dynamics*
Population Surveillance
Social Conditions