Peer-reviewed article
Evolution of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Migrant Minors in Transit to the United States According to their Socioeconomic Context: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study in Mexico.
Aranda Z, Sedas AC, Bernal-Serrano D, Pulido-Manzanero J, Regidor E et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how health-related quality of life changed for 192 migrant children in transit through Mexico to the United States, comparing their experiences before and during travel. Children from poorer backgrounds, younger children, and those with indigenous or Afro-descendant caregivers experienced greater declines in health-related quality of life during migration. Interestingly, some adolescents and children who had experienced abuse at home reported improvements in certain aspects of well-being during their journey. The research identifies vulnerable subgroups among child migrants who may need targeted support.
Key points
- 192 minors aged 1+ were surveyed in shelters on Mexico's northern border about their health-related quality of life before departure and during travel
- Children in more precarious socioeconomic situations at origin experienced greater deterioration in health-related quality of life during migration
- Younger minors and those with Afro-descendant or indigenous caregivers experienced greater declines in some aspects of well-being
- Adolescents and minors who had experienced child abuse in their place of origin reported improvements in certain aspects of health-related quality of life during the journey
- The study identifies priority populations for interventions to support child migrant well-being
Limitations
This is an exploratory cross-sectional study with a small sample collected at one point in time from shelters on the Mexican border, so it cannot establish causal relationships or track individual children's outcomes over time. The reliance on caregiver reports and the lack of longitudinal follow-up limit understanding of longer-term impacts on child well-being.
Abstract
The population of migrant and refugee children and adolescents increased in the first two decades of the 21st century in the Americas region. This analysis was conducted with the aim of shedding light on the association between the living conditions of migrant minors in Mexico, one of the main transit countries for migrants in the region, and the evolution of health-related quality of life throughout the migration process. Data were collected on 192 minors aged one year or older in transit to the United States through their caregivers in shelters on Mexico's northern border, including sociodemographic/socioeconomic information and health-related quality of life information prior to departure and during the period of travel. Differences in the evolution of health-related quality of life between origin and travel were explored for different categories of sociodemographic/socioeconomic variables. Several social groups experienced a greater deterioration in some aspects of health-related quality of life, such as those in more precarious situations at origin and along the route, younger minors, or minors whose primary caregivers identified as Afro-descendants and/or indigenous. Minors who had experienced child abuse in their place of origin and adolescents experienced improvements in certain aspects of their health-related quality of life throughout the journey. Despite the exploratory nature of the analysis, it constitutes a first step in identifying populations of children and adolescents on the move in Mexico who should be prioritized for interventions aimed at promoting their well-being.