A binational analysis of infant mortality among crisis-driven diasporas and those who remain: a population-based study in Colombia and Venezuela

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess the health cost (or benefit) of crisis-driven migration by focusing on the infant mortality rate (IMR) of the Colombian diaspora in Venezuela and the Venezuelan diaspora in Colombia. We compare national IMRs with those of the diaspora during the period 1980-2018. We analyze diaspora diaspora IMRs according to whether their arrival corresponds to crisis-driven or crisis-driven migration. Results During crises, diaspora IMRs show better health outcomes than those of non-migrants. The Colombian diaspora Colombian diaspora had a mean annual IMR of -1.8 (95% CI -3.3 to 0.28) per year and the Venezuelan diaspora had -4.5 (95% CI -5.8 to -3.3). However, the protective role of migration is neither warranted nor consistent, as a crisis in the immigrant population, since a crisis in the destination country exposes immigrants to worse health outcomes than the non-migrant population. Migration is a coping strategy that allows survival strategy that allows people to reduce the negative effects of crises in their country of origin. negative effects of the crisis in their country of origin. The distinction between crisis-driven migration and pre-crisis migration provides a framework for assessing the cross-border effects of migration. to assess the cross-border effects on the health outcomes of the diaspora, on the of diaspora, especially when populations face adverse conditions. face adverse conditions.