The impact of social determinants of health on international migrants’ health outcomes: a bibliometric analysis

• Date: 16 October 2024
• Pages: 634-656
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-01-2024-0006
• Published date: 16 October 2024
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work,economy & organizations,Labour movements
• Author: Waleed Sweileh

The impact of social determinants of

health on international migrants’health

outcomes: a bibliometric analysis

Waleed Sweileh

Abstract

Purpose –The aim of this study is to conduct an in-depth exploration of the research landscape

concerning the impact of social determinants of health (SDH) on the health outcomes of international

migrants.

Design/methodology/approach –Leveraging the extensive Scopus database, this study retrieved a

total of 2,255 articles spanning the years 1993–2023. The framework for analysis used the SDH

categoriesoutlined by the World Health Organization.

Findings –The research landscape exhibited an apparent increase in the number of publications, but

not a net increase in the researchproductivity. The USA emerged as the leading contributorto research

output, withthe Journal of Immigrant and Minority Healthemerging as the most prolific publication venue,

and the University of Torontoranking as the most prolific institution. The SDH category thatreceived the

highest number ofpublications was the ‘‘community and social context’’. Migrants from differentregions

in Asia (East, Centraland South Asia) and those from Latin Americaand the Caribbean region appeared

to be the most commonly researched. Highly cited articles predominantly delved into mental health

outcomesarising from discrimination andmigration policies.

Research limitations/implications –The findings proffer valuableinsights for shaping future research

endeavors, accentuating the imperative for diversified studies encompassing underrepresented

domains, broaderhealth outcomes and the inclusion of migrantpopulations from different world regions

in investigativepursuits.

Originality/value –This study delivers a comprehensiveanalysis of the research landscape, unveiling

criticaltrends in the realm of SDH and migrant health outcomes.

Keywords Migration,Social determinants of health,Migrant groups, Researchtrends, Health outcomes,

COVID-19pandemic

Paper type Research paper

1. Background

Migration has been a significant and ongoing phenomenon throughout history, with people

moving from one place to another for various reasons such as economic opportunities,

political conflicts, wars and natural disasters (International Organization for Migration,

2023). According to the United Nations, the number of international migrants worldwide in

2020 reached an estimated 281 million, representing an increase of 23 million from 2010

(United Nations, 2020;United Nations,2023). This number is expected to continue growing,

with projections showing that by 2050, there could be up to 404 million international

migrants globally (International Organization for Migration, 2023;United Nations, 2023). A

majority of international migrants are concentrated in high-income countries, with the USA,

Germany and Saudi Arabia being the top three destination countries for international

migrants (International Organization for Migration, 2023;United Nations, 2023). In Europe,

there has been a significant influx of migrants because of the Syrian refugee crisis, with

Waleed Sweileh is based at

the Department of

Biomedical Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine and

Health Sciences, An-Najah

National University, Nablus,

Palestine.

Received 11 January 2024

Revised 2 May 2024

18 July 2024

Accepted 10 September 2024

Funding: None.

Conflict of interests: The author

has no conflict of interest of any

type.

Artificial intelligence: The

author acknowledges the use

of QuillBot and Google Bard for

language editing only.

Consent for publications: Not

applicable.

Ethics approval: Not

applicable.

PAGE 634 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MIGRATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE jVOL. 20 NO. 4 2024, pp. 634-656, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 1747-9894 DOI 10.1108/IJMHSC-01-2024-0006

countries such as Germany, Italy and Greece receiving large numbers of asylum seekers

(UNHCR, 2023). In Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are the top

destination countries for migrants (International Organization for Migration, 2023;United

Nations, 2023).

The acculturation process, defined as the cultural and psychological changes that occur

when individuals from different cultural backgrounds come into continuous contact, is

intricately linked to the health and well-being of mig rants (Mesoudi, 2018;Hasanovi

cet al.,

2020;Bornstein, 2017;Bhugra et al., 2021;Barbati et al., 2022). As migrants adapt to their

new environments, they navigate various social determinants that influence their health

outcomes. Factors such as economic stability, access to education, social support networks,

state policies and socio-political status and discrimination significantly impact migrants’

health experiences during the acculturation process. The social determinants of health (SDH)

refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and the wider set of

forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life (WHO Commission on Social

Determinants of Health,2008;World Health Organization, 2013;Ar tiga and Hinton, 2019). The

impact of various SDH in destination countries can significantly vary according to the type of

migration involved (e.g. economic versus forced), leading to distinct health outcomes and

disparities. Economic stability, education and employment opportunities are critical SDH

factors that voluntary migrants prioritize, as they directly impact their ability to access health-

care services and maintain overall well-being (Artiga and Hinton, 2 019). On the other hand,

forced migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, often face unique challenges

related to their migration status, such as legal barriers, discrimination and trauma fr om their

displacement experiences (Morales et al., 2022;Blukaczet al., 2022;Blackmore et al., 2020).

Many articles were published on the impact of SDH on migrants’ health outcomes. This

includes exploring the impact of racial discrimination on the health of migrant children a ndthe

influence of social determinants on the quality of life among refugees, especially during the

COVID-19 pandemic (Mahmoodi et al.,2023;Le

on et al., 2023). Comparative analyses of

health status between international migrants and local populations offer valuable insights into

the intersection of migration and health from a social determinant’s perspective (Rada et al.,

2022). Poverty, social support and cultural factors were also investigated in relation to mental

health among migrants (Tulin and Smith, 2020;Ofor i-Boateng, 2017;Chile, 2002;Chang,

2018). The COVID-19pandemic features prominently in severalstudies, examining itsimpact

on migrants’ health conditions, income loss, food insecurity and social inequities (Moura

et al., 2023;Mahmoodiet al. , 2023;Carrascoet al., 2023;All ande-Cuss

oet al.,2022).

Understanding the SDH faced by migrants in their destination countries is essential for

crafting effective policies and interventions to promote their health and well-being

(Ellahham, 2021;Hynie, 2018;Mou et al.,2015;Burns et al.,2021;Corona Maioli et al.,

2021;Heywood et al., 2019;Egli-Gany et al.,2021;Gil-Gonz

alez et al.,2015;Marsh et al.,

2015;Shamsi Gooshki et al., 2016). Additionally, considering the health context of migrants’

countries of origin is crucial for tailoring health solutions in their new settings (Gushulak and

MacPherson, 2011). The examination of SDH is pivotal in comprehending the multifaceted

influences on migrants’ health outcomes, as highlighted by various studies (Guadamuz

et al.,2021

;Salami et al.,2017). This understanding of the interplay between SDH and

migration informs efforts to address health disparities among migrants, guiding the

development of targeted policies, interventions and health-care services tailored to their

specific needs (Anderson KM, 2018;Castan

˜eda et al.,2015).

Analyzing and mapping the research landscape on SDH and migrants’ health outcomes

help identify research trends, key contributors, frequently researched topics and the most

impactful research topics. The findings of the bibliometric analysis and mapping will

provide researchers in the field of migration health a snapshot of what has been

investigated and what needs to be the future research focus in the field of SDH and

international migrants (Kajikawa, 2022). This approach has been used successfully in

VOL. 20 NO. 4 2024 jINTERNATIONALJOURNAL OF MIGRATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE jPAGE 635