Young North African migrants in Europe: exploring their health and the adequacy of health services

Abstract Background Over five million people from North Africa (NA) lived in Europe in 2019, including youth characterized by intense trans-border mobility, precarious living conditions and high-risk behaviours such as prostitution and illegal activities. This population challenges health professionals and institutions ability to deliver medical care and health information remains scarce. This scoping review aims to better understand NA adolescents and young adult (aged 12-25) health status, access to and use of healthcare. Methods Following the Arksey and ÓMalley process and based on the Population-Concept-Context framework, we searched the CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed articles and non-index reports. We systematically tracked references. Results Initial search returned 5319 articles of which we included 13 (2 Spanish, 2 French, 3 German). All reported about observational studies. Nine of 13 papers included males only and 11 focused exclusively on unaccompanied minors. They reported about physical health conditions related to poverty such as dental caries, iron deficiency and dermatological conditions (n = 5) or infectious diseases, notably tuberculosis (n = 7). Trauma-related mental health conditions were frequently reported (n = 7), including post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol, cannabis or benzodiazepines harmful use with frequent overlapping presentations. Three studies discussed multi-pronged barriers to healthcare, emphasizing the importance of transcultural approaches and attention to social factors. Conclusions Embedded into multiple factors of vulnerability, poor physical and mental health is commonly associated with young NA migrants. Evidence is limited in scope and quality notably about females and young adults. There is an important gap about optimal strategies to deliver tailored health services, notably to respond to complex mental health needs. Key messages • The complex health needs and barriers to care of young NA migrants in Europe are not adequately documented, understood, and addressed. • Particular attention should be paid to trauma-related mental health conditions.