Publications Search
This publications portal is a repository of all IOM migration health publications from 2006 to present where IOM was a primary contributor.
Publications include peer-reviewed scientific papers, technical reports, training guides/manuals, policy briefs/discussion papers, factsheets, newsletters, research reviews, conference and poster presentations. These are categorized by topic, author, country/region covered as well as by year, language, and type of publication. The map reflects the countries covered by the publications.
To browse or search: simply use the filter options on the left-hand side. Alternatively, you can enter keyword/s in the search box. Selecting a specific publication will lead to a ‘download’ link or link to the website where the document is housed. Here is the step-by-step guide for your reference.

Addressing female genital mutilation in the Asia Pacific: the neglected sustainable development target
Author/s: Angela Dawson, Abdul Rashid, Rashidah Shuib, Kolitha Wickramage, Meiwita Budiharsana, Irwan Martua Hidayana, Gabriele Marranci
While much work has focused on advocacy and prevention efforts in countries of high prevalence in Africa and diaspora in Europe, there has been a paucity of discussion on FGM in the Asia‐Pacific region. FGM is practised in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines and Indonesia; however, none of these countries are supported by the UNFPA‐UNICEF Joint Programme on the Abandonment of FGM. Australia and New Zealand are also…
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Effectiveness of pre-entry active tuberculosis and post-entry latent tuberculosis screening in new entrants to the UK: a retrospective, population-based cohort study
Author/s: Berrocal-Almanza LC, Harris R, Lalor MK, Muzyamba MC, Were J, O'Connell AM, Mirza A, Kon OM, Lalvani A, Zenner D
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evaluating interventions that might lead to a reduction in tuberculosis in high-income countries with a low incidence of the disease is key to accelerate progress towards its elimination. In such countries, migrants are known to contribute a large proportion of tuberculosis cases to the burden. We assessed the effectiveness of screening for active tuberculosis before entry to the UK and for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) post-entry for reduction of…
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Alcohol use disorders among Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand
Author/s: Gaitan D, Daw Tin Shwe V, Bajcevic P, Gagnon A
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) among Myanmar male migrant workers (> 15 years) living in Mae Sot, Thailand, and their patterns of drinking.
Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 512 participants to measure AUDs and drinking patterns. ANOVA and χ2 analyses were performed to assess demographic differences between abstainers, harmful and hazardous drinkers (…
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Using artificial intelligence to read chest radiographs for tuberculosis detection: A multi-site evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of three deep learning systems
Author/s: Zhi Zhen Qin, Melissa S. Sander, Bishwa Rai, Collins N. Titahong, Santat Sudrungrot, Sylvain N. Laah, Lal Mani Adhikari, E. Jane Carter, Lekha Puri, Andrew J. Codlin, & Jacob Creswell
Deep learning (DL) neural networks have only recently been employed to interpret chest radiography (CXR) to screen and triage people for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). No published studies have compared multiple DL systems and populations. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of three DL systems (CAD4TB, Lunit INSIGHT, and qXR) for detecting TB-associated abnormalities in chest radiographs from outpatients in Nepal and Cameroon. All 1196 individuals received a Xpert MTB/RIF assay and a CXR…
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Psychological morbidity in Nepali cross-border migrants in India: a community based cross-sectional study
Author/s: Dhungana RR, Aryal N, Adhikary P, Kc RK, Regmi PR, Devkota B, Sharma GN, Wickramage K, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since Nepali cross-border migrants can freely enter, work and stay in India, they are largely undocumented. The majority is involved in semi-skilled or unskilled jobs with limited labour rights and social security, a fact which predisposes them to psychological distress. We aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with psychological morbidity among Nepali migrants upon their return from India.
METHODS: A community-based cross-…
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Airport Entry and Exit Screening during the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Sierra Leone, 2014 to 2016
Author/s: Kolitha Wickramage
We present entry and exit screening outcomes on all persons passing through Freetown International Airport (FNA) in Sierra Leone during the period 1st September 2014 to 4th February 2016. A total of 166,242 persons underwent screening for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at FNA. Five persons were denied air travel from Sierra Leone after secondary screening. Laboratory testing revealed none were positive for EVD. No cases were identified through entry screening route. The public health value of…
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Healthcare is not universal if undocumented migrants are excluded
Author/s: Helena Legido-Quigley, Nicola Pocock, Sok Teng Tan, Leire Pajin, Repeepong Suphanchaimat, Kol Wickramage, Martin McKee, Kevin Pottie
Key messages
- Millions of men, women, and children who have migrated internationally pay taxes and contribute to local economies but fail to receive the security of universal health coverage
- The right to health, which underpins the commitment to universal health coverage in the sustainable development goals, includes migrant populations
- Some countries are designing inclusive policies to ensure that undocumented migrants have access to health services, while other…

Improving the health of migrants
Author/s: Kolitha Wickramage, Paul J Simpson, Kamran Abbasi
The editorial piece tackles how anti-migrant rhetoric among politicians and media as well as the lack of or weak policy frameworks focusing on the healthcare access and coverage of labour migrants, internally displaced populations, and internal migrants contribute to the gaps in addressing the health needs of migrants and migrant populations. It notes that addressing these gaps remain to be a challenge among policymakers, practitioners, civil society, and researchers to ensure that migration…
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Building alliances for the global governance of migration and health
Author/s: Jo Vearey, Miriam Orcutt, Larry Gostin, Christy Adeola Braham, Patrick Duigan
Key messages
- Universal health coverage will not be attained if migration is not integrated into existing health responses and if health is not integrated into existing migration responses
- The governance of migration and health is an issue of state sovereignty that questions the role of global migration and health governance initiatives
- Building alliances across sectors can support effective migration aware governance responses to migration and health
- A…

An evaluation of a tuberculosis case-finding and treatment program among Syrian refugees—Jordan and Lebanon, 2013–2015
Author/s: Andrew T. Boyd, Susan T. Cookson, Ibrahim Almashayek, Hiam Yaacoub, M. Saiful Qayyum, and Aleksandar Galev
Abstract
Background: The displacement crisis in Syria poses challenges for tuberculosis (TB) control across the region. Since 2012 in Jordan and 2013 in Lebanon, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported the National TB Program (NTP) in detecting and treating TB among Syrian refugees. In December 2016, IOM asked US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff to evaluate its program of support to Jordan and Lebanon’s NTPs for TB control among…
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