Our research
Research in the Migrant and Refugee Research Centre focuses on advancing knowledge and practice to enhance the health and wellbeing of migrant and refugee populations. Our research is interdisciplinary, involving experts from a range of fields.
Current research projects
Designing, implementing, and evaluating an online educational programme for health professionals on immunising people with migrant and refugee backgrounds (2020-2024)
Migrants and refugees generally have lower immunisation rates compared to their host populations. Health care professionals (HCPs) play a vital role in delivering immunisation to migrants and refugees, and positive recommendations from providers are a significant influencer on vaccine uptake. However, HCPs require training around the specific immunisation concerns and questions people may have, especially those with migrant and refugee backgrounds. While there are training programmes for health professionals to become vaccinators, specific initiatives for educating health providers regarding the immunisation needs of migrants and refugees are limited. To address this, we are developing an online educational programme for health providers that will provide training in assessing the immunisation needs of migrants and refugees, including the need for catch-up vaccinations, across all age groups with the overall aim of improving uptake of vaccines among these groups.
Funded by:
The Health Research Council of New Zealand
Researchers:
Abela Mahimbo, Ikran Abdi, Holly Seale, Anita Heywood, Nadia Charania, Preeti Tiwari
Refugee resettlement in Aotearoa New Zealand: An evaluation of the Afghan evacuee resettlement programme (2023-2024)
Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) welcomed more than 1500 Afghan nationals on emergency or temporary visas in response to the recent crisis in Afghanistan, when the Taliban took control of the country after international forces departed. New Settlers Family and Community Trust (NFACT) is a community-based organisation that provides support to resettled refugees and those from refugee-like backgrounds. NFACT received funding for 2 years to provide resettlement support and services to 1500 Afghan evacuees in Auckland. NFACT developed a community-led holistic model of refugee resettlement that featured the provision of culturally appropriate, wrap-around resettlement support. Using a mixed-methods methodology informed by a participatory evaluation framework, we collected quantitative and qualitative data from Afghan evacuees and NFACT staff about their experiences with the programme and suggestions for improvement.
Funded by:
Auckland University of Technology, Foundation North
Researchers:
Nadia Charania, Eleanor Holroyd, Irene Zeng
Equitable preventive maternal and early childhood health services among migrants (2024-2025)
Migration to Aotearoa New Zealand is increasing, with migrants currently making up over a quarter of the total population. Migrants and refugees can experience barriers to accessing preventive health services during pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood. Moreover, it is important that services are culturally appropriate and also incorporate how migrants’ transnational ties influence their health perceptions and behaviours. Suboptimal engagement with these services can have short- and long-term impacts on the health and wellbeing of women and children of migrant and refugee backgrounds, thereby creating inequities. We aim to establish a research network that spans across sectors, including academia and health services, and develop a prioritised research agenda. By identifying key research questions and areas for change, we will draft funding applications to undertake the research and translate evidence to drive maximal impact to improve the health and wellbeing of migrant and refugee women and children in Aotearoa.
Funded by:
The Health Research Council of New Zealand
Researchers:
Nadia Charania (PI), Gail Pacheco, Dan Tautolo, Amber Young, Nikki Turner, Janine Paynter, Samantha Marsh, Vivian Cheung, Claire MacDonald
Past projects
These scoping reviews explored rates of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) burden and immunisations among migrant and non-migrant populations, and currently recommended interventions to reduce the VPD burden faced by migrants worldwide.
Funded by:
AUT Summer Studentship award
Researchers:
Dr Nadia Charania, Nina Gaze, Janice Kung & Stephanie Books
Utilising New Zealand’s capacity to link anonymised health and immigration data (the Integrated Data Infrastructure), the Red Knot study determined the immunisation status and vaccine-preventable disease burden among children with migration and refugee backgrounds.
Funded by:
Ministry of Innovation and Employment
Researchers:
Dr Nadia Charania, Dr Janine Paynter, Dr Arier Lee, Ms Donne Watson, and Associate Professor Nikki Turner
This integrative literature review was conducted drawing on peer-reviewed research articles on immigrant health in NZ published between 2012 and 2018. A search yielded more than 130 articles with 28 articles constituting the foundation of the review. This review is timely following the rapid increase in the scale, speed, and spread of immigration and its potential for changing NZ’s national health patterns and priorities. migration in NZ is a gendered phenomenon, as there has been more women and girls arriving as migrants in NZ and being at risk of poor health in comparison with their male counterparts. Secondly, studies on infectious diseases take precedence over other health problems. Thirdly, research methodologies used to collect data may not be relevant to the cultural and traditional customs of the migrant populations. Furthermore, a number of research findings implemented have failed to meet the needs of NZ migrants. Lastly, policy initiatives are inclined more towards supporting health practitioners and lack a migrant centred approach.
Funded by:
African refugees and asylum seekers
Researchers:
Blessing Kanengoni Nyatara, Dr Sari Andajani and Professor Eleanor Holroyd
A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 374 African ASRs living in HK. The survey comprised of: (a) socio-demographics; (b) health status; (c) health behaviours; and, (d) social experiences. Associations between social determinants of health and depression screen were explored and multivariable regression analysis was conducted. A significant proportion of African ASRs in Hong Kong exhibits depressive symptoms. A complex interaction combining both social and perceptions of health and discrimination in the host society is likely exacerbated by their ASR status. The use of community support groups or even re-examination of the family reunification laws could improve the mental health and wellbeing of African ASRs in Hong Kong.
Funded by:
HK Health Care and Promtion Fund
Researchers:
William Wong, Sui Cheung, Ho Huen Miu, Jackie Chen, Karen Loper, Eleanor Holroyd
This study proposes to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding factors that influence the access and uptake of immunisations and strategies that would help improve age-appropriate vaccinations among refugee children post-resettlement. The outcomes of this study will help us better understand the root causes of under-immunisation and how we can improve immunisation rates to protect vulnerable refugee children and the wider society.
Funded by:
Health Research Council of New Zealand (Emerging Researcher First Grant)
Researchers:
Dr Nadia Charania, Dr Janine Paynter, and Associate Professor Nikki Turner
This mixed-methods research aims to understand factors influencing ethnic disparities in the update of health services for children, focusing on GP visits, immunisations and dental. The aim is to understand the complex interaction of factors at play and propose recommendations for policy and practice improvement to reduce health inequities.
Funded by:
Health Research Council of New Zealand (Project Grant)
Researchers:
Professor Gail Pacheco, Dr Nadia Charania, Dr Alexander Plum, Dr Sonia Lewycka, Associate Professor El-Shadan (Dan) Tautolo, Dr Terryann Clark, Dr Mary Hedges
This qualitative descriptive study aims to understand the vulnerabilities and capacities of Indian and Chinese migrants in the face of disasters and propose strategies for migrant-inclusive disaster risk-reduction.
Funded by:
Earthquake Commission
Researchers:
Dr Nadia Charania, Dr Loic Le De, Ms Vineeta Rao
Postgraduate students
Our postgraduate students work on projects that further advance our centre's research.