Infectious Diseases and Health Access among Migrants in Cambodia – Final Report

A steady economic growth over the last two decades in Cambodia and the ASEAN region has contributed to an increase in internal and international migration in search of better employment and livelihood opportunities. Migrants and mobile populations (MMP) face many obstacles in accessing essential health-care services due to a number of factors, including irregular migratory status, language barriers, a lack of migrant-inclusive health policies and inaccessibility of realization of global health goals, such as preventing HIV, containing tuberculosis the human influenza pandemics, and other key infectious diseases. High morbidity and mortality among migrants, especially in irregular, force, or exploitative migration situations is an underestimated critical health concern that deserves international attention.

The research study undertaken by IOM aimed to analyse migrants’ knowledge on six infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, dengue fever and malaria) and any barriers which may prevent them from accessing health services.

The report covers findings from a data collection study in five provinces linking Cambodia to Thailand, Viet Nam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic where migrant populations live. It also provides wide-ranging recommendations for the government institutions, development sector and local authorities on increasing the migrants’ populations understanding of disease prevention.