title: HIV/AIDS health care challenges for cross-country migrants in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV/AIDS has been one of the world's most important health challenges in recent history. The global solidarity in responding to HIV/AIDS through the provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and encouraging early screening has been proved successful in saving lives of infected populations in past decades. However, there remain several challenges, one of which is how HIV/AIDS policies keep pace with the growing speed and diversity of migration flows. This study therefore aimed to examine the nature and the extent of HIV/AIDS health services, barriers to care, and epidemic burdens among cross-country migrants in low-and middle-income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A scoping review was undertaken by gathering evidence from electronic databases and gray literature from the websites of relevant international initiatives. The articles were reviewed according to the defined themes: epidemic burdens of HIV/AIDS, barriers to health services and HIV/AIDS risks, and the operational management of the current health systems for HIV/AIDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 437 articles selected for an initial screening, 35 were read in full and mapped with the defined research questions. A high HIV/AIDS infection rate was a major concern among cross-country migrants in many regions, in particular sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a large number of studies reported in Africa, fewer studies were found in Asia and Latin America. Barriers of access to HIV/AIDS services comprised inadequate management of guidelines and referral systems, discriminatory attitudes, language differences, unstable legal status, and financial hardship. Though health systems management varied across countries, international partners consistently played a critical role in providing support for HIV/AIDS services to uninsured migrants and refugees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was evident that HIV/AIDS health care problems for migrants were a major concern in many developing nations. However, there was little evidence suggesting if the current health systems effectively addressed those problems or if such management would sustainably function if support from global partners was withdrawn. More in-depth studies were recommended to further explore those knowledge gaps.
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand ; Banphai Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rapeepong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suphanchaimat
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Angkana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommanustweechai
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chiraporn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khitdee
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chompoonut
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thaichinda
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kanang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kantamaturapoj
authors.affiliation: Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pattara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leelahavarong
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pensom
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jumriangrit
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thitikorn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Topothai
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thunthita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wisaijohn
authors.affiliation: International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Weerasak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Putthasri
keywords: HIV/AIDS; health systems; low- and middle-income countries; migrant; refugee; scoping review