Collection Highlight: Migration and its Effects on Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition
Published in Social Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health
A key target of SDG 3 is target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicine and vaccines for all. But how can we ensure migrants have access to this? At a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable and, potentially, most in need of these services, how can we ensure that they can access it easily and be treated justly and with care?
The International Journal for Equity in Health and the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition aim to answer some of these questions and provide solutions in their groundbreaking collection “Migration and its Effects on Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition”. Sadly, forced and voluntary migration have become a global phenomenon with profound implications for mothers’ and children’s health, nutrition and overall well-being. However, no one should experience further suffering after they have had to leave their homes, due to conflict, natural disasters or any other reason, which meant they have had to migrate.
Whilst we may all be aware of the issues that migrants face, particular mothers and children, this collection strives to bridge the gaps in the evidence base and promote research incorporating diverse disciplinary perspectives and methodological synergies. By better understanding complex social, political, economical and cultural determinants shaping the health of migrant women and children, we can better serve those who need the help most. As SDG 3 stresses we need to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people at all ages. There should be no exceptions.
Edited by Dr Mónica M. Ancira Moreno from Mexico and Dr Ana Lorena Ruano the collection aims to focus on health disparities in migrant populations, nutritional challenges and interventions, impact of migrant policies, psychosocial well-being, community health and resilience and health systems and access to care, but submissions aren’t limited to these. In support of SDG 3 and its goal to help people and make a difference in peoples’ lives, research that engages with the affected communities, apply innovative methodological frameworks and inform policy and practice are encouraged. Migrants aren’t concepts, they are real people with real needs, who deserve the same respect and access to essential health services as everyone.
This is an incredibly important topic, and many people are dedicating their time and resources to doing impactful work that could transform the lives of migrants. Therefore, please do check out this collection.
Senior Publisher in medicine. Portfolio of journals spanning sexual medicine, pathology and applied physiology.
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International Journal for Equity in Health
This journal presents evidence relevant to the search for, and attainment of, equity in health across and within countries and publishes research which improves the understanding of issues that influence the distribution of health and healthcare within populations.
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Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
This journal brings together research on all aspects of issues related to population, nutrition, and health. The journal publishes articles across a broad range of topics including global health, maternal and child health, nutrition, common illnesses, and determinants of population health.
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Elimination of infectious diseases of poverty as a key contribution to achieving the SDGs
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Ongoing
Health Inequities’ Lethal Impact
Advancing our collective understanding of health inequities remains essential for addressing the complex and often lethal consequences of systemic disparities in health outcomes. While significant progress has been made in recognizing the role of social determinants of health (SDOH), there is an urgent need to further investigate the structural injustices that perpetuate income inequality, racial and ethnic disparities, and the disproportionate burden of chronic disease—particularly among historically marginalized and underserved populations.
This Collection centers on the lethal impact of health inequities, with a primary focus on mortality and the systemic conditions that lead to preventable deaths. While morbidity—defined as the burden of disease and disability—plays a critical role in shaping health trajectories, it is the escalation to premature mortality that underscores the urgency of this research. Authors are strongly encouraged to examine how inequities contribute to death and life-shortening outcomes, rather than submitting work that addresses health equity in general without engaging with its fatal consequences.
Recent research has revealed that the relationship between morbidity and mortality is complex and non-linear. Some populations endure prolonged suffering due to chronic conditions, while others face abrupt and avoidable death due to systemic neglect. These patterns reflect the cumulative impact of adverse SDOH, such as housing insecurity, food instability, limited education, and lack of access to timely care.
Communities facing intergenerational trauma, persistent socioeconomic disadvantage, and discrimination—including Indigenous populations and other minoritized groups—are disproportionately affected. Individuals living in areas of high social vulnerability experience significantly higher all-cause mortality rates, and those with multiple concurrent adverse SDOH face the poorest health outcomes.
Ongoing examination of these issues is vital for informing evidence-based decision-making and equipping policymakers with the insights needed to foster equity in health. Beyond identifying policy failures, this Collection seeks to highlight mechanisms for translating research into equitable policy action. By bridging the gap between evidence and implementation, we aim to surface practical pathways for systemic change—whether through legislative reform, community-led initiatives, or integrated health system strategies.
We invite researchers to contribute to this special Collection, Health Inequities’ Lethal Impact. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
-Structural injustice and health
-The role of income inequality in health outcomes
-Racial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease
-Health inequities in Indigenous communities
-Policy interventions for reducing preventable deaths
-Mechanisms for translating evidence into equitable policy action
-Social determinants of health and morbidity
-Community-based approaches to health equity
-Examining policy failures in health systems
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This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, reinforcing the global imperative to ensure equitable access to health.
All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Nov 02, 2026
