Health barriers and inequities for migrants

Abstract

As the world becomes more ethnically heterogeneous than ever, the sense of belonging to one culture or another differentiates ethnic groups from one another and forms distinct ethnic minorities that are often disadvantaged and socially isolated from the larger community (Giddens, 1997). Persons who are part of excluded and marginalized minorities are often comprised of recent migrants (Cohen &Kennedy, 2000). In fact, it is estimated that there are 5,000-ethnocultural groups worldwide, often living uncomfortably within the existing approximately 200 national states and at least 175 million people living outside their country of origin (UNDP, 2004). Although, Western societies fight for cultural diversity and the right to be different while they simultaneously struggle for equal opportunity, categorization on the basis of cultural identity still leads to racist and discriminatory behavior towards the 'other' or the 'different.' Thus, the process of integration becomes quite difficult for those who wish to adapt to the new culture where they have either decided to or are forced to live in (in the case of refugees). In many countries, migrant and refugee populations constitute a marginalized sector of the population because they are impacted by factors that cause inequalities in numerous dimensions of social life such as race/ethnicity, poverty, illiteracy, gender and class. Migrants, refugees, and women in particular are often considered vulnerable because of their exposure to risk factors. In fact, "the greatest risk factors are rooted in those activities undertaken during the process of migration-rather than simply being a migrant" (UNAIDS, 2001b). © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.