Returned but Not Restored: Experiences of Health and Access to Care Among Return Migrants in Sub-Saharan Africa-A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Introduction: Return migrants form a diverse group, ranging from highly skilled to low-skilled workers, who travel by regular or irregular migration routes and experience differing levels of physical and mental harm during transit and at destination. Further, their conditions of return may pose significant hardships and risks for their health. Despite the significant number of return migrants in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), limited research exists from the region addressing the health status of return migrants and their access to healthcare services.

Objective: To examine experiences of health and access to care among return migrants in SSA.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted including studies available at PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, PsychINFO, and Global Index Medicus from the database inception to January 2025. The primary outcomes included were: (re)migration-related risk factors for ill health, health outcomes upon return and re-integration and access to healthcare services.

Results: This scoping review identified 15 studies from four SSA countries, with the majority originating from Ethiopia. Return migrants' health and wellbeing are affected by experiences of violence during their migration journey, which impacts their mental and physical health. Return migrants report experiencing stigma, mental health and physical health symptoms, as well as challenges to accessing health services both during the migration journey and upon return. After return, they report experiencing social isolation and stigma, which complicate their reintegration.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the scarcity of research on the health and wellbeing of return migrants in SSA, emphasizing the need for further studies to better understand the challenges they face and develop targeted interventions to address the health and wellbeing of return migrants in SSA.