Immigrants and Refugees

There are an estimated 214 million international migrants (people living outside their countries of origin) in the world today. Within the receiving (host) societies, these people are referred to as immigrants, or individuals born in foreign countries. The health needs of immigrant populations are significant and are a challenge to public health systems of the host societies. Immigrant populations comprise workers, refugees, students, undocumented migrants, and other types of migrants. Each of these groups has different health determinants, needs, and levels of vulnerability. Cultural conceptions of health, illness, and healing systems [Page 768]vary considerably among ethnically diverse immigrant groups and are not always consistent with conventional Western medicine. In addition, many migrants, especially refugees (people who flee their home country for fear of persecution based ...