Interventions to ensure access to and continuity of HIV care for international migrants: an evidence synthesis

Alena Kamenshchikova*, Charlotte M M Peters, Christiana Nöstlinger, Brian Rice, Nathan Ford, Giovanni Ravasi, Fiona Burns, Milosz Parczewski, Christian J P A Hoebe, Nicole Dukers, Farah Seedat, Antons Mozalevskis, Linda-Gail Bekker, Jean Berchmans Tugirimana, Weiming Tang, Gifty Marley, Denis Onyango, Monica C Thormann Peynado, Teymur Noori, Sally Hargreaves

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

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Abstract

International migrants, especially those belonging to key populations, face a considerable HIV burden. However, continuity of HIV care for this group is often challenged along the migration route. We assess the available evidence on the existing interventions that aim to strengthen community and health systems to ensure the continuity of HIV care for international migrants. We did a systematic search of PubMed for publications from 1989 until 2023 focused on different stages of the HIV care continuum regardless of the geographical region. The literature was reviewed with a thematic approach. Globally, legal regulations can restrict access to HIV care and fuel fear of deportation among undocumented migrants. The intersection of HIV-related and migration-related stigma creates further challenges for uninterrupted access to HIV care along the migration route, with negative clinical and public health consequences. Different potential interventions were identified including: provision of HIV care regardless of migration status; utilisation of mobile health, mobile units, and community-led initiatives to bring HIV care to migrants; and utilisation of participatory and co-creation methods to develop tailored and sustainable HIV-related interventions with migrant communities. Improving access to the continuity of care for migrants requires a shift towards intersectional policies rooted in co-creation approaches to address the underlying multiple and mutually reinforcing inequalities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e873-e884
Number of pages12
JournalThe lancet HIV
Volume11
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Oct 2024

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