Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018

Introduction The identification of spatial–temporal clusters of forced migrant mortality is urgently needed to inform preventative policies and humanitarian response. As a first step towards understanding the geography of forced migrant mortality, this study investigates spatial–temporal patterns in...

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Main Authors: Till Bärnighausen, Stéphane Verguet, Marcia C Castro, Danielle N Poole, Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-10-01
Series:BMJ Global Health
Online Access:https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/10/e002885.full
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author Till Bärnighausen
Stéphane Verguet
Marcia C Castro
Danielle N Poole
Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
author_facet Till Bärnighausen
Stéphane Verguet
Marcia C Castro
Danielle N Poole
Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
author_sort Till Bärnighausen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The identification of spatial–temporal clusters of forced migrant mortality is urgently needed to inform preventative policies and humanitarian response. As a first step towards understanding the geography of forced migrant mortality, this study investigates spatial–temporal patterns in death at a global scale.Methods We used information on the location and dates of forced migrant deaths reported in the International Organization for Migration’s Missing Migrant Project from 2014 to 2018. Kulldorff’s spatial–temporal and seasonal scans were used to detect spatial–temporal and temporal heterogeneity in mortality.Results A total of 16 314 deaths were reported during the study period. A preponderance of deaths occurred at sea each year (range 26%–54% across 5 years). Twelve spatial–temporal clusters of forced migrant mortality were detected by maximum likelihood testing. Annually, the period of August–October was associated with a 40-percentage-point increase in the risk of mortality, relative to other time periods.Conclusions Death during forced migration occurs close to national borders and during periods of intense conflict. This evidence may inform the design of policies and targeting of interventions to prevent forced migration-related deaths.
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spelling doaj-art-4b7d8263f9af47c38c9a4f2f13ccdb512024-12-11T17:25:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082020-10-0151010.1136/bmjgh-2020-002885Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018Till Bärnighausen0Stéphane Verguet1Marcia C Castro2Danielle N Poole3Bethany Hedt-Gauthier48 Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USAEpidemiology of Microbial Diseases Department, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USAHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USAIntroduction The identification of spatial–temporal clusters of forced migrant mortality is urgently needed to inform preventative policies and humanitarian response. As a first step towards understanding the geography of forced migrant mortality, this study investigates spatial–temporal patterns in death at a global scale.Methods We used information on the location and dates of forced migrant deaths reported in the International Organization for Migration’s Missing Migrant Project from 2014 to 2018. Kulldorff’s spatial–temporal and seasonal scans were used to detect spatial–temporal and temporal heterogeneity in mortality.Results A total of 16 314 deaths were reported during the study period. A preponderance of deaths occurred at sea each year (range 26%–54% across 5 years). Twelve spatial–temporal clusters of forced migrant mortality were detected by maximum likelihood testing. Annually, the period of August–October was associated with a 40-percentage-point increase in the risk of mortality, relative to other time periods.Conclusions Death during forced migration occurs close to national borders and during periods of intense conflict. This evidence may inform the design of policies and targeting of interventions to prevent forced migration-related deaths.https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/10/e002885.full
spellingShingle Till Bärnighausen
Stéphane Verguet
Marcia C Castro
Danielle N Poole
Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018
BMJ Global Health
title Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018
title_full Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018
title_fullStr Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018
title_full_unstemmed Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018
title_short Spatial–temporal trends in forced migrant mortality, 2014–2018
title_sort spatial temporal trends in forced migrant mortality 2014 2018
url https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/10/e002885.full
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AT bethanyhedtgauthier spatialtemporaltrendsinforcedmigrantmortality20142018