Identifying adolescents and young migrants for their appropriate approach to health

Abstract

Introduction: adolescent migrants are relevant social actors in current migration contexts, both in the country and in the world. For this reason, it is a priority to identify them for their pertinent approach in health. Objective: to provide a conceptual framework that allows placing the migrant adolescent as specific subjects of research and social intervention. Methods: critical review of theoretical and empirical-scientific literature currently available, regarding the situation of adolescent migrants from a health perspective. Results: It is currently recognized that the migration of the adolescent population implies particular dynamics and problems that have been invisible until now. In the international literature on adolescent migrant health, it is argued that although this population is the fastest growing in the United States and Europe, there is little attention to them in terms of health. One of the thematic axes with greater development in the literature of immigrant adolescents and health is that of mental health. The developments in Latin America with respect to adolescent migrants are mainly focused on south-north migration, with a focus on adolescent males and their identity construction processes. Conclusions: there is a limited production of knowledge about adolescent migrants. Most investigations include this population within the problems of migrant children. The vast majority of approaches revolve around mental health, mainly in contexts of refuge and asylum. It is necessary, both in Chile and regionally and globally, to listen to the voices of migrant adolescents, to know their expectations, as well as their needs in health, to generate programs that include them and make them visible from rights and participation approaches.