HIV Prevalence in Migrant Groups Based on Country of Origin: A Systematic Review on Data Obtained between 1993 and 2020

Abstract

The prevalence of internationally displaced people has been rising steadily within the last decade, creating enormous groups of migrants vulnerable to communicable diseases. This study aims to investigate HIV prevalence in migrant groups based on country of origin and present these results as weighted estimates on HIV prevalence based on geographical origin. Furthermore, HIV prevalence by country of origin is compared to WHO estimated prevalence in these countries. A systematic literature search has been conducted, and risk of bias in the included studies has been assessed. A ratio termed the Migration/Origin ratio, expressing weighted estimates on HIV prevalence among migrants by country of origin compared to the WHO estimated HIV prevalence in the country of origin, was constructed to compare the yields of this study to WHO prevalence estimates. Based on the search strategies covering the years 1990 to February 2021, 2295 articles were identified. The articles were screened by title and/or abstract, and retrieved articles were screened by full manuscript, leading to a final inclusion of 49 studies. HIV prevalence among migrants originating from the Middle East was 0.11%, Southeast Asia 1.50%, Eastern Europe 0.44%, Latin America 0.74%, North-, East-, West-, Central- and Southern Africa 1.90%, 3.69%, 2.60%, 3.75% and 3.92%, respectively. The overall Migration/Origin ratio was 2.1. HIV prevalence among migrants originating from countries with a high HIV prevalence was generally higher than among the autochthonous population. Several HIV prevalence estimates among migrants according to country of origin varied from WHO estimates.