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Social determinants and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Asian migrant populations in Europe

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Abstract

In Europe, policies, strategies and interventions to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases have generally neglected to take into consideration the impact of migration on health outcomes of increasingly multicultural and diverse societies. Research has shown that migrants of South Asian origin living in Europe are more at risk of acquiring non-communicable diseases than their counterparts in their country of origin or than the host European population. Using the example of migrants of South Asian origin, this paper highlights the migration-related social determinants of health and risk factors for non-communicable diseases. This paper calls for a more integrated, multi-sectoral approach to promote migrant-friendly health and social services to address non-communicable diseases in South Asia and Europe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Migration Heath Division, International Organization for Migration, 17, route des Morillons, CH-1211, Geneva 19, Switzerland

    Anita A. Davies, Carolyn Blake & Poonam Dhavan

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  1. Anita A. Davies
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  2. Carolyn Blake
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  3. Poonam Dhavan
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Correspondence to Anita A. Davies.

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Davies, A.A., Blake, C. & Dhavan, P. Social determinants and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Asian migrant populations in Europe. Asia Eur J 8, 461–473 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-011-0291-1

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