Migration is a longstanding, increasing global phenomenon. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused the largest forced displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War. Migration to Ireland in 2022 was the highest since 2007 and one in six of the population is born abroad. As a social determinant of health, migration can lead to health inequities between people on the move and host populations. A scoping review of migrant health research in Ireland identified research gaps in health information systems (HIS), primary care and secondary data analysis of population studies.
The aim of this project is to strengthen HIS for refugee and migrant health policy and practice in Ireland. We will use recently developed guidance from WHO European Region to map and evaluate the capacity of all existing national HIS in Ireland for the collection and integration of data on refugee and migrant health. We will develop new software to identify migrants in primary care electronic health records, facilitating the comparison of health outcomes and healthcare utilisation of migrants and non-migrants. We will use longitudinal cohort studies of families in Ireland and the UK to understand the relationship between host country and health system, family structure, migrant status, and health outcomes over time.
This project will address identified evidence gaps from knowledge users to inform targeted interventions, support primary care services for socially excluded groups, and reduce health inequities in Ireland. Our partnership between researchers, refugees and migrants, practitioners and knowledge users can accelerate evidence-based decision-making for policy and practice. This is necessary for efficient use of limited healthcare resources and is timely in an era when facts and not myths about refugees and migrants are required and while Ireland can intervene to minimise any health inequities that may develop.
