Health aspects of the pre-departure phase of migration

Summary Points * The local conditions and environment at the place of origin of migrants influences health during all phases of the migration process. * Pre-departure health characteristics are important drivers in health activities directed at migrants, such as immigration medical screening. * Some pre-departure health elements continue to affect migrant populations long after their arrival at their destination. * Improved understanding and management of pre-departure health determinants will support the development and delivery of migrant-relevant health services. Migrant Health in the Context of the Pre-Migration Phase The observation that one's origin, in terms of physical location and the determinants of health (socioeconomics, genetics and biology, behaviour, and environment), influences one's current and future response to events is widely appreciated across the spectrum of social and physical sciences [5]. An illustration is provided by comparing rural to urban migration and international migration from the same area.\n The repetitive, cyclic flow of migrants, such as migrant labor or migrants visiting friends and relatives in their place of origin, can create specific health challenges that exceed the capacities of traditional programs developed for uni-directional migration.