Migration and Displacement: The Case of Tuberculosis Barman Paramita* Assistant Professor in Economics, Faculty of Commerce & Management, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata *Corresponding Author: Paramita Barman, Assistant Professor in Economics, Faculty of Commerce & Management, St. Xavier's University, Action Area IIIB, Plot No. IIIB/1, New Town, Kolkata, 700160, Phone No: 8981878443, e-mail: paramitabarman11@gmail.com
Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract The recent years have witnessed an enormous rise in population displacements both beyond country borders as well as within. Limited access to health services and unfavourable living and working conditions make migrants vulnerable to an array of health risks and hazards including tuberculosis (TB) infection, progression to TB disease and poor treatment outcomes. Underlying social determinants of health are the most crucial risk factors that multiply the chances of contracting TB. Also, around 40 per cent of the total number of incident TB cases globally are missed by the public health systems which have serious public health implications and are most likely to occur among populations susceptible to TB, like migrants and refugees. With respect to ‘crowd infections’ and public health emergencies like TB, the health of migrants therefore assumes a critical position. This study makes an important contribution by providing a comprehensive survey of existing evidence on how migration and displacement can increase the risk of TB infections across countries and empirically validating the same in the Indian context. Top Keywords Tuberculosis, epidemiology, risk factors, migration, displacement. Top |