Health care access, seeking practices and behaviours among migrant parents and/or caregivers with under-five children: A scoping review protocol
1
Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3277
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The international migrant population increased from 150 million in 1990 to 280.6 million in 2020. Women and children (≤19 years) represent 48.1% and 14.6%, respectively. This scoping review was conducted to systematically map healthcare access, experiences, and solutions among migrant caregivers of under-five children. Inclusion and exclusion criteria Research focusing on migrant parents or caregivers of children under five worldwide, which examined healthcare access and behaviours, was included. Studies that did not fit this context or lacked methodological details were excluded.
METHODS:
Using the Arksey & O’Malley framework, we conducted a global electronic database search on PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, and grey literature from the World Health Organisation Repositories. We targeted articles published from January 2015 to December 2025 in all languages. Covidence software was used for study selection and data extraction. The results were analysed using thematic and descriptive analysis.
RESULTS:
Out of 4514 articles reviewed, 41 studies met our inclusion criteria. The majority of the included studies were qualitative (62 %). Most of the included studies were conducted in high income countries, including the United States of America, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with a few studies from Africa. Overall, most of the studies reported poor health-seeking practices among immigrants. However, the majority reported access to healthcare services within proximity. Barriers included language, lack of legal documentation, poor attitude of healthcare workers, lack of information, lack of transport, rejection, and distrust of health workers. The most healthcare services for the under-five children utilized were vaccination and childhood illnesses treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Migrants face challenges in accessing healthcare services globally. Reducing barriers to access healthcare services could improve health-seeking practices among immigrants. The findings provide opportunity to design healthcare services accessible among immigrants to reduce social disparities among this vulnerable population.
The international migrant population increased from 150 million in 1990 to 280.6 million in 2020. Women and children (≤19 years) represent 48.1% and 14.6%, respectively. This scoping review was conducted to systematically map healthcare access, experiences, and solutions among migrant caregivers of under-five children. Inclusion and exclusion criteria Research focusing on migrant parents or caregivers of children under five worldwide, which examined healthcare access and behaviours, was included. Studies that did not fit this context or lacked methodological details were excluded.
METHODS:
Using the Arksey & O’Malley framework, we conducted a global electronic database search on PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, and grey literature from the World Health Organisation Repositories. We targeted articles published from January 2015 to December 2025 in all languages. Covidence software was used for study selection and data extraction. The results were analysed using thematic and descriptive analysis.
RESULTS:
Out of 4514 articles reviewed, 41 studies met our inclusion criteria. The majority of the included studies were qualitative (62 %). Most of the included studies were conducted in high income countries, including the United States of America, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with a few studies from Africa. Overall, most of the studies reported poor health-seeking practices among immigrants. However, the majority reported access to healthcare services within proximity. Barriers included language, lack of legal documentation, poor attitude of healthcare workers, lack of information, lack of transport, rejection, and distrust of health workers. The most healthcare services for the under-five children utilized were vaccination and childhood illnesses treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Migrants face challenges in accessing healthcare services globally. Reducing barriers to access healthcare services could improve health-seeking practices among immigrants. The findings provide opportunity to design healthcare services accessible among immigrants to reduce social disparities among this vulnerable population.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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