Evidence and gaps in the literature on HIV/STI prevention interventions targeting migrants in receiving countries: a scoping review

Figures & data

Table 1. Search structure based on PICO components with inclusion and exclusion criteria

PICO concept	Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Population: Does the study sample include at least 50% of migrants?	All persons aged 18 or more who have moved to a country other than their usual country of residence for a period of more than three months (>3 months) so that the recipient country becomes their new country of residence	Internal migrants (migration within a country’s national borders), tourists, guest workers and students temporarily staying in another country
Intervention: Is the paper about an intervention that aimed to prevent HIV and STI transmission and/or promote sexual health outcomes?	All HIV/STI prevention and sexual health promotion interventions targeting migrants in host countries.	HIV/STI interventions targeting the general population or other non-migrant at risk groups or where migrants make up less than 50% of participants or interventions with other goals
Comparison: Does the data analysis described in the paper include a comparison between intervention and comparison groups and/or before and after intervention?	Interventions where measurements are made before and after, with or without the use of a comparison or control group	Interventions without measurements before and after or without comparison with other groups
Outcomes: Is the paper about an intervention/study that includes any of the following outcomes?	HIV and STI incidence and prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and practice, HIV and STI testing, unwanted pregnancies, abortion, contraceptive use, medical visits, condom use, unprotected sex, gender-based violence, condom use, stigma and discrimination, self-efficacy, acceptability, access, availability, adaptation, structural indicators, policy and practice	Outcomes that are not related to HIV and STI prevention or sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Types of study designs/literatures: Does the study design/literature include any of the following?	Both peer-reviewed and grey literature based on quantitative methods such as randomised controlled studies (RCTs), non-experimental studies (observational studies), quasi-experimental studies and meta-analyses, as well as qualitative studies describing and measuring outcomes of interest among migrants and their perceptions and experiences of health-promoting interventions and HIV/STI prevention in receiving countries.	Cross-sectional studies, case reports and series, ideas, editorials, opinions and pilot studies

Figure 1. Flow chart of the literature search and selection process

Table 2. Description of the characteristics of included studies

Authors, year and place	Study design	Sample size (n): (intervention/control)	Gender/Sex: Male/Female (%)	Age (years)	Country of origin (%)	Length of stay (years)	Outcome measures	Study period/ follow-up time (retention rate)
Juon et al, 2016, USA	RCT	232 (124/108)	Mixed (43/57)	Mean: 48.8	China (32), Korea (34) and Vietnam (32),	1–41 (16.82 ± 10.52)	Self-reported Hepatitis B Vaccination (verified with the medical records)	23 months/at 7 months
Merchant et al, 2015, USA	RCT	150 (n = 50) and an ED (n = 50) and two community-based organizations (n = 50)	Mixed: (unclear)	27–47 years	The Dominican Republic (43), Puerto Rico (22), Guatemala (17), El Salvador (7), Mexico (5), Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela (6).	Median: 17 (video) vs. 14 years (orally delivered information)	Comprehension of information (HIV knowledge Score)	7 months/ immediately after
Bastani et al, 2015, USA	RCT	1,123 (543/580)	Mixed: 35/65	18–64 (mean = 46)	Korea (97)	Average >16 years	HBV testing(self-reported)	2006–2012/at 6 months
Juon et al, 2014, USA	RCT	877 (441/436)	Mixed: 41/59	≥18	USA (2.7) Chine (35), Vietnam (32) and Korea (34)	0–54 (14.97 ± 9.83)	HBV screening (Self-reported)	7 months (November 2009 -June 2010/after 6 months
Takahashi et al, 2013, USA	RCT	200 (110/99)	Women:-/100	20–74	China (100)	Unclear	Knowledge about HIV risk factors, Knowledge about prevention and condom use skills	November 2010 to July 2012/at 3-months
Juon et al, 2013, USA	RCT	877 (441/436)	Mixed: 41/59		USA (2.7), China (35), Korea (34), Vietnam (32)	0–54 (14.97 ± 9.83)	HBV Knowledge	November 2009 and June 2010/ at 6 months
Chen et al, 2013, USA	RCT	260 (130/130)	Mixed: 40/60	16–74	Laos (73.1) Thailand (21.5)	≤ 10 years (37.9%), >10 years (62.1%)	HBV Knowledge, HBV testing and factors affecting testing	/at 6 months
Peragallo et al, 2012, USA	RCT	548 (274/274)	Women	18–50	Colombia (34), Cuba (13) in Cuba, Peru (8), USA (8), the Dominican Republic (6), and other 11 countries (5)	Unclear	Chlamydia incidence, condom use, get drunk, IPV, partner communication, perceived HIV risk, self-efficacy, HIV knowledge, norms, perceived barriers, intention to use condom, community prevention and depression	January 2008-April 2010/at 3-,6- and 12-months
Authors, year and place	Study design	Sample size (n): (intervention/control)	Sex/Gender: Male/Female (%)	Age (years)	Country of origin (%)	Length of stay (years)	Outcome measures	Study period/ follow-up time (retention rate)
Rhodes et al. 2011, USA	RCT	142 (72/70)	Men	18–53	Mexico (59) El Salvador (6.8), Guatemala (13.4) Honduras (9.9), Nicaragua (1), Other (7.7)	Unclear	Condom use, HIV testing	Unclear /at 3 months
Wingood et al 20,011, USA	RCT	252 (125/127)	Women	30.3 (± 6.86)	South America (38.2) Cuba (25.5), Central American (19.9), Dominican Republic (4), Puerto Rico (2), Mexico (1.6), USA (8.8)	9.2 (± 8.6)	Consistent condom use, Cultural norms: traditional views of gender roles, HIV knowledge, Perceived barriers to condom use, Self-efficacy for negotiating safer sex, Feelings of power in relationships, Condom use self-efficacy	August 2007-August 2010/ at 3- and 6-month
Taylor et al, 2009a, USA and Canada	RCT	460 (unclear)	Mixed (unclear)	≥ 50% were < 45 years	China (100)	Unclear	HBV testing (primary), HBV Knowledge (secondary)	Unclear (2005)/ Unclear
Taylor et al 2009b, Canada	RCT	325 (141/157)	Mixed (30/70)	>18	China (76) or other country (13)	< 2 years (146), ≥ 2 years (162)	Knowledge about HBV	2006–2007/at 6-month
Peragallo et al, 2005, USA	RCT	657 (404/253)	Women	18–44	Mexico = 89.4%, Puerto Rica (10.6)	1–21	HIV knowledge, Partner communication, Risk-reduction behavior intentions, Safer sex peer norms, Condom use and Perceived barriers to condom use	February 1999- October 2000/ at 3-and 6 months
McPhee et al, 2003, USA	RCT (Posttest-Only design with equivalent comparison group)	1500 (500/500/500)	Mixed	18–79	Vietnam (100)	24–46	Parents’ awareness, knowledge about HVB, Children vaccination	April 1998-March 2000/at 2 years
Kocken et al, 2001, Netherlands	RCT, without concurrent controls/ historical	589 (293/296)	Men	18–40	Turkish Morocco	<3 (n = 70), >3 (n = 494)	Misunderstandings about HIV, Risk appraisal for HIV infection, Perceived benefits of condom use, Perceived barriers for condom use, Condom self-efficacy and Intention to use condom	Unclear/
Roberts et al, 2017, Australia	Pretest-posttest design (single group)	18 (N/A)	Mixed (30/70)	14–21	Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and Middle East (unclear)	Unclear	knowledge, confidence, attitudes and skills in relation to sexual health	12 weeks
Rios-Ellis et al, 2015, USA	Pretest-posttest design	579 (N/A)	Mixed (43/57)	25–44	Foreign born (55), mainly from Mexico (97)	14.8 ± 11.8	HIV knowledge, Stigma, Risk perception and Willingness to discuss sexual risk with partner (communication)	12 weeks

Table 3. Summary of key features of interventions

Authors and year	Theory	Target group	Setting	Deliverer	Unit and mode of delivery	Number and duration of session	Incentive	Language
RCT
Juon et al, 2016	None	Asian Americans	Home based (outreach)	Lay health advisor	Individual/ Mails and phone calls	Three phone calls at month 1, 2 and 5 in 7 months	Yes	English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese
Merchant et al, 2016	None	Spanish-speaking Latinos	Medicine clinic, Emergency department and CBOs	Research assistant/ HIV counsellor	Group/Video and orally delivered	One 10 min (Orally delivered), one 15 min (Video)	Unclear	Spanish
Bastani et al, 2015	Health behavior framework	Koreans	Churches	Lay health workers	Group/ small group discussion and print materials	Single session	Unclear	Korean
Juon et al, 2014	PRECEDE–PROCEED planning model	Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese	CBOs (churches, temples and schools)	Trained bilingual staff	Group/ information, role play video at the clinic and photo novel	One 30 min session	Unclear	Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese
Chen et al, 2013	Health Behavior Framework (HBF)	Hmong residents in the USA	Homes	Lay health workers	Individual (educational sessions and navigation services through home visits)	One 45 min	Yes	Hmong/ English
Juon et al, 2013	None	Chinese massage parlor women	CBOs (churches, temples, and schools)	Trained bilingual educator	Group (2–8)/educational session	One 30 min session/group over 1–2 weeks	Yes	Mandarin and Cantonese
Takahashi et al, 2013	Social Cognitive Theory and theories of gender and power	Chinese massage parlor worker women in the USA	Health center	Chinese female facilitators	Group (educational session and distribution of safe sex kits and information about free anonymous HIV testing)	Two 3 (intervention), one 2 h (control)	Yes	Mandarin/ Cantonese
Peragallo et al, 2012	Social cognitive theory of behavior change	Hispanic women	Accessible Community sites	Bilingual and bicultural Hispanic women (bachelor to doctoral degree)	Group (3–7)/role play, participatory sessions, videos and discussions	Five 2 hours sessions	Yes	Spanish/ English
Rhodes et al, 2011	Social cognitive theory and empowerment education	Heterosexual Latino men	The offices of CBPR partners and in the homes of participants	Peer Educators (companeros de salud)	Group/ small group activities and discussions,, didactic teaching, DVD, role plays	Multiple sessions for HIV and one session for cancer program	Yes	Spanish
Authors and year	Theory	Target group	Setting	Deliverer	Unit and mode of delivery	Number and duration of session	Incentive	Language
Wingood et al, 2011	Social cognitive theory and theory of gender and power	Latina women	County HIV/AIDS office	Latina health educators	Group (7–8)/group discussions, role paying and teaching activities	Four 2.5 hours sessions during 4 consecutive weeks	Yes	Spanish
Taylor et al, 2009a	None	Chinese	Participants’ Homes	Lay health workers (Bicultural, trilingual Chinese Americans/Canadians)	Individual/ video and pamphlets through home visits	Unclear	Yes	Mandarin/ Cantonese
Taylor et al, 2009b	None	Chinese immigrant ESL students in Canada	CBO ESL schools	ESL teachers	Group (class sessions)	Three hours session	Yes	Mandarin/ Cantonese
Peragallo et al, 2005	Social cognitive theory of behavior change	Low-income Latino women in USA	Unclear	Bicultural staff and HIV counselor	Group (hands on activities, role playing, skill demonstration and homework)	Unclear	Unclear	Spanish/ English
McPhee et al, 2003	None	Vietnamese American parents	CBOs	Media, community members and staff	Community/radio spots, oral presentation, and broadcast announcements	Over 2 years	Yes	Vietnamese
Kocken et al, 2001	Health belief model	Turkish and Moroccan men in the Netherlands	Coffee houses and mosques	Peer educator	Group (lectures and discussions)	One, 75 min	Unclear	Arabic
NRCT
Roberts et al, 2017	None		Migrant Resource Centre	Staff and peer educator		5 or more sessions/week
Rios-Ellis et al, 2015	Airhihenbuwa and Webster’s PEN-3 model and Elder et al.’s framework	Underserved Latino in the USA	Community venues	Peer HIV positive and their relatives	Group (interactive group education and brochures)	One, 60–90 min	Yes	Spanish/ English
Galvan at al, 2015	None	Migrant and Returnee men in Mexico	Migrant shelters	Lecturer, peer, pamphlets	Group (group lecture, peer education and pamphlet	One 30 min (peer), one 5 h lecture	Unclear	Spanish
Veldhuijzen et al, 2012	None	Chinese migrants	Community venues	Staff/community members	Community campaign	12 months
Drummond et al 2011	None	West African Refugees in Australia	Community hall	Peer educators	Group (workshops)	Unclear	Yes	English
Vega et al, 2011	Social identity theory	Latino gay men in the USA	CBOs	Bilingual program staff	Group (exposition and discussion)	5 sessions of unclear duration in 5 weeks	Yes	Spanish/ English
Martinez-Donate et al, 2010	Social-ecological framework and social marketing principles	Latino MSM who identify themselves as heterosexual in the USA	Community venues	Media	Community (mixed campaign)	7 months	Yes	Spanish
Authors and year	Theory	Target group	Setting	Deliverer	Unit and mode of delivery	Number and duration of session	Incentive	Language
Bertens et al, 2008	Problem-based learning (PBL), Trans theoretical Model (TTM), Self-regulated learning and observational learning	Afro-Caribbean women in the Netherlands	Homes	Peer health educators	Group (Group interaction and discussion)	Five sessions, unclear duration	Yes	Antillean/ Surinamese
Martin et al, 2005	None	Latino Migrants in the USA	Homes and Community venues	Peer community health workers	Individual/ Group (education session)	One session, unclear	Unclear	Spanish
Martijn et al, 2004	Theory of planned behavior	Arab speaking migrants in the Netherlands	Refugee shelters	Lay health worker and Professional Health advisor	Group (group lectures and discussions)	One session, 150 min	Unclear	Turkish/ Arabic
Busza et al, 2004	Community mobilization	Vietnamese illegal migrants sex workers in Cambodia	MSF clinics and drop-in centers	MSF Clinic staff	Group (participatory education, workshops, skills building)	Unclear	Unclear	Vietnamese
Kapplan et al, 2002	None	HIV positive Ethiopian and their sexual partners.	Regional HIV center	Ethiopian Cultural mediators/case Managers (CMs)	Individual or couple/ Counselling	One session, 150 min	Unclear	Amharic
Raj et al,2001	Social cognitive theory, empowerment model based on Freirian concept, self-in-relation, diffusion and innovation and theory of gender and power (Intervention 1), theory of reasoned action and health belief model (Intervention 2)	Hispanic women in the USA	Community center and community clinic	Community health worker	Group (education sessions)	12 sessions, 90 min, 12 weeks	Yes	Spanish
Shtarkshall at al, 1993	None	Ethiopian migrants in Israel	Unclear	Authors	Group (education session)	3 days	Unclear	Hebrew