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.