[Health and immigration: new situations and challenges]

The new social and demographic framework in Spain that has appeared since the arrival of new migrant populations, raises the need to improve the knowledge of their health status and to identify preventive measures and priorities in heath services.A bibliographic review of the available information on migration and health in Spain is performed, together with an analysis of their contents from a Public Health point of view. The high proportion of new borns from foreign mothers, the mental needs, deficits in oral and dental health, and the increase of tuberculosis in migrants, together with limited vaccine coverage in children, define the main health needs of these populations. The analysis of health services, reveals a high use of pediatric, obstetric and gynecologic resources by migrant populations. Conclusions; although no particular health needs have been identified for migrants, special attention for tuberculosis, mother and child health and health promotion and prevention, have to be funded for specific migrant populations. Health resources and services have to be reinforced with health agents, human resources, and specialized education for health professionals.