International Migration of Unaccompanied Minors: Trends, Health Risks, and Legal Protection

Overview

Journal Lancet Child Adolesc Health

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2021 Aug 20

PMID 34416189

Citations 7

Authors

Susanna Corona Maioli

Jacqueline Bhabha

Kolitha Wickramage

Laura C N Wood

Ludivine Erragne

Omar Ortega Garcia

Rochelle Burgess

Vasileia Digidiki

Robert W Aldridge

Delan Devakumar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The global population of unaccompanied minors-children and adolescents younger than 18 years who migrate without their legal guardians-is increasing. However, as data are not systematically collected in any region, if collected at all, little is known about this diverse group of young people. Compared with adult migrants, unaccompanied minors are at greater risk of harm to their health and integrity because they do not have the protection provided by a family, which can affect their short-term and long-term health. This Review summarises evidence regarding the international migration and health of unaccompanied minors. Unaccompanied minors are entitled to protection that should follow their best interests as a primary consideration; however, detention, sometimes under the guise of protection, is a widespread practice. If these minors are provided with appropriate forms of protection, including health and psychosocial care, they can thrive and have good long-term outcomes. Instead, hostile immigration practices persist, which are not in the best interests of the child.

Citing Articles

Victimization, polyvictimization, and depression symptoms among immigrants and native children and youth in Chile.

Pinto-Cortez C, Marin-Gutierrez M, Melis-Rivera C, Contreras-Taibo L, Moya-Vergara R Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2024; 18(1):72.

PMID: 38890679 PMC: 11186072. DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00755-7.

Accuracy of Age Estimation Using Three Dental Age Estimation Methods in a Young, Large, and Multiethnic Patient Sample.

Willmann C, Fernandez De Grado G, Kolb C, Raul J, Musset A, Gros C Dent J (Basel). 2023; 11(12).

PMID: 38132426 PMC: 10742978. DOI: 10.3390/dj11120288.

Persistence of Emotional Distress in Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents Primarily From the Northern Triangle of Central America.

Vega Potler N, Zhang J, Hackley B, Choi J, Xie X, Punsky B JAMA Netw Open. 2023; 6(6):e2318977.

PMID: 37338902 PMC: 10282890. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.18977.

Psychotherapeutic and Psychosocial Interventions with Unaccompanied Minors: A Scoping Review.

Moutsou I, Georgaca E, Varaklis T Healthcare (Basel). 2023; 11(6).

PMID: 36981575 PMC: 10048295. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060918.

Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America.

Letona P, Felker-Kantor E, Wheeler J Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2023; 47:e59.

PMID: 36909804 PMC: 10003450. DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2023.59.

References

Mohwinkel L, Nowak A, Kasper A, Razum O . Gender differences in the mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors in Europe: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2018; 8(7):e022389. PMC: 6067370. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022389. View

Brown D, Anda R, Tiemeier H, Felitti V, Edwards V, Croft J . Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of premature mortality. Am J Prev Med. 2009; 37(5):389-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.06.021. View

Orcutt M, Mussa R, Hiam L, Veizis A, McCann S, Papadimitriou E . EU migration policies drive health crisis on Greek islands. Lancet. 2020; 395(10225):668-670. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33175-7. View

Felitti V . The Relation Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Health: Turning Gold into Lead. Perm J. 2018; 6(1):44-47. PMC: 6220625. DOI: 10.7812/TPP/02.994. View

Danese A, McEwen B . Adverse childhood experiences, allostasis, allostatic load, and age-related disease. Physiol Behav. 2011; 106(1):29-39. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.08.019. View

Mitra R, Hodes M . Prevention of psychological distress and promotion of resilience amongst unaccompanied refugee minors in resettlement countries. Child Care Health Dev. 2019; 45(2):198-215. DOI: 10.1111/cch.12640. View

Muller L, Buter K, Rosner R, Unterhitzenberger J . Mental health and associated stress factors in accompanied and unaccompanied refugee minors resettled in Germany: a cross-sectional study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2019; 13:8. PMC: 6352340. DOI: 10.1186/s13034-019-0268-1. View

Janda A, Eder K, Fressle R, Geweniger A, Diffloth N, Heeg M . Comprehensive infectious disease screening in a cohort of unaccompanied refugee minors in Germany from 2016 to 2017: A cross-sectional study. PLoS Med. 2020; 17(3):e1003076. PMC: 7108686. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003076. View

Kien C, Sommer I, Faustmann A, Gibson L, Schneider M, Krczal E . Prevalence of mental disorders in young refugees and asylum seekers in European Countries: a systematic review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018; 28(10):1295-1310. PMC: 6785579. DOI: 10.1007/s00787-018-1215-z. View

10.

Devi S . Unaccompanied migrant children at risk across Europe. Lancet. 2016; 387(10038):2590. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30891-1. View

11.

Wickramage K, Annunziata G . Advancing health in migration governance, and migration in health governance. Lancet. 2018; 392(10164):2528-2530. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32855-1. View

12.

Chase E, Rezaie H, Zada G . Medicalising policy problems: the mental health needs of unaccompanied migrant young people. Lancet. 2019; 394(10206):1305-1307. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31821-5. View

13.

Jud A, Pfeiffer E, Jarczok M . Epidemiology of violence against children in migration: A systematic literature review. Child Abuse Negl. 2020; 108:104634. DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104634. View

14.

Silva D, Smith M . Limiting Rights and Freedoms in the Context of Ebola and Other Public Health Emergencies: How the Principle of Reciprocity Can Enrich the Application of the Siracusa Principles. Health Hum Rights. 2015; 17(1):E52-7. View

15.

Habib R, Ziadee M, Abi Younes E, Harastani H . Syrian refugee child workers: Gender differences in ergonomic exposures and musculoskeletal health. Appl Ergon. 2019; 83:102983. DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102983. View

16.

Baauw A, Kist-van Holthe J, Slattery B, Heymans M, Chinapaw M, van Goudoever H . Health needs of refugee children identified on arrival in reception countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2019; 3(1):e000516. PMC: 6782036. DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2019-000516. View

17.

Ataiants J, Cohen C, Riley A, Lieberman J, Reidy M, Chilton M . Unaccompanied Children at the United States Border, a Human Rights Crisis that can be Addressed with Policy Change. J Immigr Minor Health. 2017; 20(4):1000-1010. PMC: 5805654. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0577-5. View

18.

Oliveira C, Keygnaert I, Martins M, Dias S . Assessing reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence, causes and preventive strategies, in European asylum reception facilities. Global Health. 2018; 14(1):48. PMC: 5944050. DOI: 10.1186/s12992-018-0365-6. View

19.

Kadir A, Battersby A, Spencer N, Hjern A . Children on the move in Europe: a narrative review of the evidence on the health risks, health needs and health policy for asylum seeking, refugee and undocumented children. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2019; 3(1). PMC: 6361329. DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000364. View

20.

McAlpine A, Hossain M, Zimmerman C . Sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in settings affected by armed conflicts in Africa, Asia and the Middle East: systematic review. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2016; 16(1):34. PMC: 5192570. DOI: 10.1186/s12914-016-0107-x. View