[Migration-sensitive data collection for public health surveillance]. / Migrationssensible Datenerhebung für die Gesundheitsberichterstattung. Arbeitsgruppe Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Arbeitskreises "Migration und öffentliche Gesundheit".

Despite the many potential sources of stress and strain that accompany a migration situation, there are very few data in official statistics with regard to the health and social situation of migrants in Germany. The fact that this information is not available for public health reporting could lead to problems of improper, lacking or excessive health care. A working group within the Arbeitskreis Migration und Offentliche Gesundheit has been addressing this problem since 2003. In this article, a systematic overview of the most important data sources for public health reporting and of the indicators for migration background and social status that each one contains will be given. After that we will present examples of good practice in migration-sensitive data collection at the local and national level. Finally suggestions for improving the data situation with regard to the health of migrants based on the recommendation for recording the migration status in epidemiological studies will be made.

[Health monitoring of the Swiss migrant population]. / Gesundheitsmonitoring der Migrationsbevölkerung in der Schweiz.

With the health monitoring of the Swiss migrant population, a database was created on migrants' health state, their health behaviour and utilization of health services. Thanks to this database, it is now possible to draw representative conclusions on the health status of migrants compared to the indigenous population. Based on the Swiss Health Survey, a questionnaire was developed and translated into several languages. A survey of the foreign population permanently resident in Switzerland as well as of asylum seekers and those temporarily settled in Switzerland was conducted through phone interviews. The interviewees could choose the survey language: in their mother tongue or one of the Swiss languages. A first description of the data is available. The analyses show that the results found for migrants of West European countries are comparable to those of the Swiss population. All other migrants come off worse with regard to health and social indicators. For example, they assess their self-perceived health state more often as "average" or "bad", they feel emotionally less balanced, or visit a doctor more frequently than the Swiss population does. Significant differences can be found within the data of the surveyed migrant population, for example depending on gender, age, residence status or nationality.

[A basic set of indicators for mapping migrant status. Recommendations for epidemiological practice]. / Mindestindikatorensatz zur Erfassung des Migrationsstatus. Empfehlungen für die epidemiologische Praxis.

Data on the health status of migrants are still scarce. One of the reasons for this is that migration status has not been well recorded in official statistics and epidemiological studies. In order to obtain an adequate and standardised operationalisation of migrant status, we first need an exact definition of the terms "migrant" and "migration background". We discuss approaches to the definition of terms and the surveying of ethnic minorities and migrants, and then develop a basic set of migration status indicators for use in epidemiological research. This set of indicators includes country of birth of the father and mother, year of immigration, mother tongue, German language skills and status of residence. The key indicator for the identification of migrants is the country of birth of the parents and not the nationality as was previously often the case. Thus, the classification based on the judicial category of nationality is replaced by a classification based on the biographical event "migration". Migration brings with it specific life conditions and challenges that can impact health across several generations. An instrument for surveying migrant status must be further developed both to reflect the special conditions of the life situation resulting from the migration experience and to take as full account as possible of all aspects of a migrant's history.

Surveillance of HIV infection and related risk behaviour in European prisons. A multicentre pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In order to demonstrate the feasibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and related risk behaviour surveillance in European prisons, a multicentre pilot study was undertaken. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in six European prisons (France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland and Sweden). Inmates were invited to complete a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire and to give a saliva sample in order to test for HIV antibodies. RESULTS: Eight hundred and forty-seven out of 1,124 inmates participated in the survey (response rate 75%). Saliva from 817 inmates (73%) was collected and processed for HIV antibodies. Twenty-seven per cent reported that they had ever injected drugs and 49% of these reported they had injected whilst in prison. Eighteen per cent of inmates reported that they had been tattooed whilst in prison, which was found to be higher among injecting drug users (IDUs). One and sixteen per cent reported that they had ever had homosexual and heterosexual intercourse in prison respectively. The HIV prevalence among IDUs was 4% (versus 1% among non-IDUs) (p = 0.02). The proportions of inmates previously tested for hepatitis C and vaccinated against hepatitis B were 24 and 16% respectively. CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates the feasibility of cross-sectional surveys in European prison inmates and highlights the importance of surveillance of HIV prevalence and related risk behaviour among inmates. The continuing high HIV prevalence and potential for HIV spread in prisons should encourage decision makers in implementing or enhancing harm reduction and education programmes and substance abuse treatment services in prison.