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.

Feasibility, Uptake, and Results of COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests among Refugees and Migrants in a Pilot Project in North-West Syria
Author/s: Hassan Ghawji, Mohamad Nihad AlYousfi, Srinath Satyanarayana, Nevin Wilson, Laila Tomeh, Hussam Alkhellov, Sali Hasan, Sanjay Sarin, and Kekeletso Kao
Abstract: North-west Syria (NWS) is a conflict-affected and unstable area. Due to its limited health infrastructure, accessing advanced COVID-19 testing services is challenging. COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) have the potential to overcome this barrier. A pilot project was implemented to introduce Ag-RDTs in NWS, aiming to determine the feasibility, uptake, and results of Ag-RDTs and identify facilitators and barriers to testing with Ag-RDTs. A…
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Promoting health and wellbeing among the migrant workforce: A global call to action
Author/s: Mohamed-Ali Vidya, Trummer Ursula, Thompson Didi, Babar Zahra, Martini Michela, Ali Al-Marri Saleh, Al-Ansari Abdulla, Al-Maadheed Mohammed
Over the last two decades, there have been increasing calls to improve the health and welfare of low-wage migrant laborers, particularly in areas with large numbers of these workers, such as the Middle East. High-profile events accompanied by large infrastructure projects, such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ (FWC22), have attracted international media scrutiny over employment practices in the region, but also provided a catalyst for introducing important improvements in workers’ rights,…
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Health system considerations related to voluntary and forced displacement in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a critical analysis of the available literature
Author/s: Eman Sharara, Chaza Akik, Michela Martini, Jocelyn DeJong
Abstract
Background: The WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean has had a history of complex migration patterns, with
high levels of migration to, from, and within the Region, overlaid by massive recent forced displacement. Relatively little
is known about the health system response to this large-scale mobility.
Aims: To review the literature on the Region critically, identify gaps, and suggest areas needing research and policy attention.
…
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Diaspora Engagement in Health in The Eastern Mediterranean Region: A desk review of experiences
Author/s: IOM
This desk review of the medical (or health) diaspora originating from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region was conducted jointly by the Department of Health Systems Development at the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO EMRO) and the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) MENA Regional Office, both in Cairo.
The review starts with a brief overview of the (out)migration of health professionals from…
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Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic
Author/s: Kolitha Wickramage, Chiaki Ito, Mahmoud Hilali, Sally Hargreaves, Ana Requena-Méndez, on behalf of the Migrant Health MENA working group
As COVID-19 vaccine roll-out begins in the MENA region, ensuring migrant populations have equitable access to the vaccine, designing innovative and specific mechanisms for vaccine roll-out in these areas, and monitoring vaccine uptake in migrant groups are now imminent challenges.

Understanding health inequities among transiting migrants within the Middle East and North African (MENA) region through strengthening data systems
Author/s: Ana Requena-Méndez, Kolitha Wickramage, Chiaki Ito, Bouchra Assarag, Mahmoud Hilali, Anna Deal, Sara Arias, Dominik Zenner, Wafa Chemao-Elfihri, Sally Hargreaves, the Migrant Health MENA Working Group
The editorial argues that failure to integrate migration variables within the health information systems in many countries in the MENA region means that, to date, there has been an absence of comprehensive and disaggregated epidemiological data on infectious disease prevalence (including COVID-19), outbreaks, and vaccine coverage, making it difficult to map health disparities and inform evidence-based policy and service delivery.

A rapid review of immunisation coverage, vaccine delivery and migration in North Africa amongst migrant populations (PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021256369)
Author/s: Anna Deal, Sara Arias, Sally Hargreaves, Ana Requena, Mahmoud Hilali, Wafa Chemao, Bouchra Assarag, Ouahchi Hamdouni Anissa, Habib Ghédira, Kolitha Wickramage, Kaisa Kontunen, Janice Lopez, Chiaki Ito, Jannet Bahri, Dominik Zenner
In this systematic review we are trying to answer these specific questions: What is the immunisation coverage among migrant populations in North Africa for key vaccines, and are there variations among migrant subpopulations? Where and by who are vaccines administered to migrant populations? What are the key delivery mechanisms (IOM, NGOs, government structures)? What are the barriers and facilitators to migrant populations accessing vaccines in this region? What is the quality and quantity…
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Health profile of pediatric Special Immigrant Visa holders arriving from Iraq and Afghanistan to the United States, 2009–2017: A cross-sectional analysis
Author/s: Simone S. Wien, Gayathri S. Kumar, Oleg O. Bilukha, Walid Slim, Heather M. Burke, Emily S. Jentes
Abstract
Background
The United States has admitted over 80,000 Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVH), which include children. Despite the increase in the proportion of SIVH admissions to the US over recent years, little is known about health conditions in SIV children. We report the frequency of selected diseases identified overseas and assess differences in selected conditions between SIV children from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Methods and…
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Tools to implement the WHO End TB Strategy: Addressing common challenges in high and low endemic countries
Author/s: Seif Al Abri, Thereza Kasaeva, Giovanni-Batista Migliori, Delia Goletti, Dominik Zenner, Justin Denholm, Amal Al Maani, Daniela Maria Cirillo, Thomas Schön, Troels Lillebæk, Amina Al-Jardani, Un-Yeong GO, Hannah Monica Dias, Simon Tiberi, Fatma Al Yaquobi, Faryal Ali Khamis, Padmamohan Kurup, Michael Wilson, Ziad Memish, Ali Al Maqbali, Muhammad Akhtar, Christian Wejse, Eskild Petersen
Aim
The purpose of this viewpoint is to summarize the advantages and constraints of the tools and strategies available for reducing the annual incidence of TB by implementing the WHO End TB Strategy and the linked WHO TB Elimination Framework with special reference to Oman.
Methods
The case-study was built based on the presentations and discussions at an international workshop on TB elimination in low incidence countries organized by the Ministry of…

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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