African immigrant child health: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Pediatric Health
• Migration Studies

Background:

• Migrant children's health is a critical global concern.
• African migration predominantly occurs within Africa, but significant numbers move outside the continent.
• Sub-Saharan African children migrating internationally face unique health challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of the health of sub-Saharan African immigrant children living outside Africa.
• To identify key health concerns and research gaps in this population.
• To synthesize existing evidence on the health status of these children.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search for studies published between 2000 and 2019.
• Thematic analysis of data from 20 selected studies.
• Focus on children up to 18 years of age.

Main Results:

• Identified health concerns include nutrition status (8 studies), mental health (7 studies), and physical health (5 studies).
• Study participants were primarily from Somali and Ethiopian backgrounds.
• Most studies were conducted in Australia and Israel.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps exist in the scope, range, and nature of evidence regarding the health of sub-Saharan African immigrant children abroad.
• Current research predominantly focuses on nutritional and mental health, neglecting other potential health issues.
• Further research is needed to address the comprehensive health needs and effective interventions for this vulnerable population.