School of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
The WiseUp Initiative for Good Health and Community Development, Kaduna, Nigeria.
Health Res Policy Syst. 2024 Aug 5;22(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s12961-024-01172-0.
Migration policies have a significant impact on population health, particularly for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These policies not only determine who is allowed to enter a country but also influence which immigrants can access services provided by the government. Some countries continue to impose restrictions on HIV-positive individuals, justifying these measures as necessary to protect public health and mitigate healthcare and economic concerns. However, these restrictions lack a valid public health rationale. Due to social, economic and political constraints, restrictive migration laws hinder access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services for immigrants living with HIV. Immigrants face numerous challenges in accessing medication, adhering to treatment regimens and benefitting from HIV preventive efforts. This situation increases the risk of HIV infection and adverse health outcomes due to limited access to preventive programmes, social stigma and engagement in risky behaviours. Additionally, these restrictive migration rules negatively affect immigrants' mental health. To improve the health of both immigrants and host communities, inclusive and evidence-based migration policies that address healthcare through public health and human rights lenses are required.
移民政策对人口健康有重大影响，特别是对那些携带人类免疫缺陷病毒 (HIV) 的人。这些政策不仅决定了谁可以进入一个国家，还影响了哪些移民可以获得政府提供的服务。一些国家继续对 HIV 阳性个人施加限制，他们认为这些措施是保护公共健康、减轻医疗保健和经济担忧的必要措施。然而，这些限制缺乏有效的公共卫生理由。由于社会、经济和政治方面的限制，限制移民的法律阻碍了 HIV 感染者移民获得预防、护理和治疗服务。移民在获得药物、坚持治疗方案和受益于 HIV 预防措施方面面临着诸多挑战。由于预防性方案的可及性有限、社会污名化以及从事危险行为，这种情况增加了 HIV 感染和不良健康结果的风险。此外，这些限制移民的规则对移民的心理健康也有负面影响。为了改善移民和东道社区的健康，需要制定包容和循证的移民政策，从公共卫生和人权的角度来解决医疗保健问题。
