Handbook of Health and Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean

This handbook presents a comprehensive overview of theories and scientific evidence related to the complex and dynamic relationship between migration and population health in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), it is estimated that as of 2020 there were more than 281 million international migrants around the world. From that total, 43 million are in Central and South America and the Caribbean. But despite the relevance of migratory movements in these regions, most of the scientific knowledge about health and migration is produced by researchers from the Global North, which has produced a significant North-South divide that profoundly affects how knowledge is theorized, researched and transferred into practice globally. This volume aims to contribute to reducing this gap by bringing together chapters that discuss health and migration in Latin America and the Caribbean based mainly on publications and scientific reports produced in the region and written by local experts coming from both the health and social sciences.

“For too long, research and policy in global health have been predominantly influenced by North American and European institutions, perspectives, and priorities. In contrast, Latin America brings forward a distinctive and rich research tradition in the health sciences, with a vibrant research community dedicated to social medicine and critical approaches in social epidemiology. These perspectives are particularly well suited for analyzing the social, structural, and political determination of health inequities, including those related to migration. This handbook, therefore, is not only an academic contribution but a vital call for regionally grounded research, innovative theoretical approaches, and a much-needed rebalancing of the global discourse on migration and health.” – Michael Knipper, Lancet Migration Regional Focal Point for Latin America

Some chapters of this handbook were originally written in Spanish and translated into English with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.

Alfonso Urzúa is full Professor and researcher at the School of Psychology from Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. Psychologist and Licentiate in Psychology from the Universidad de Tarapacá, Chile, master’s in public health from the Universidad de Chile and Doctor in Clinical and Health Psychology from the Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. He has presented multiple reports and conferences nationally and on several continents. He has published over 200 articles in WoS and Scopus journals on well-being, quality of life and health, as well as books and book chapters. Past editor of Terapia Psicológica, member of editorial and/or scientific committees of Scientific Journals in Psychology in several countries. Past President of the Interamerican Society of Psychology [SIP], has been part of the board of the Latin American Association of Health Psychology [ALAPSA], the Chilean Society of Scientific Psychology, the Chilean Society of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, the Chilean Society of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine. Honorary Member of the College of Psychologists of Peru and an honorary member of the Cuban Society of Health Psychology. Board member of Lancet Migration for Latin America and co-founder of the Chilean network of research on health and migration RECHISAM. He is currently the director of the Doctoral Program taught by the School of Psychology at the Universidad Católica del Norte.  He has been distinguished with the award for current contribution to psychological research and with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Scientific Society of Psychology of Chile.  During the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, he has been recognized for being in the top 2% of the world's most cited researchers in his specialty in SCOPUS.  Since 2013 he is the principal investigator, with funding from the government of Chile through the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development [FONDECYT], currently on health and migration issues.

Báltica Cabieses is full professor of social epidemiology and director of the Center of Global Intercultural Health at the Faculty of Medicine Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile. She holds a BA in Nursing-Midwifery, a diploma in university teaching and a Master's degree in Epidemiology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a PhD in Health Sciences (social epidemiology) from the University of York, England (2011). She is a senior visiting scholar at the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York since 2011. Director of the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Capacity Building for the Health of Migrants and Refugees in Chile 2024-2028. Board member of Lancet Migration for Latin America, board member of the Chilean network of research on health and migration RECHISAM. Member of the Lancet Commission group on Racism and Child Health. Former Vice-President of the Chilean Society of Epidemiology between the years 2014-2017. National and international consultant of health equity, health of migrants and implementation science in socially and culturally diverse communities. Advisor to WHO, PAHO, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development of Chile, and to various public and private institutions. Research lines: social inequities in health (2005 to date), health of international migrants (2008 to date) and participation of patients in decision-making on health coverage (2016 to date). Editor of 8 academic books and over 20 publicly available research reports and policy briefs. Participation in more than 60 research projects in Chile and abroad and has more than 190 scientific publications.