ProCite
RefWorks
Reference Manager
BibTeX
Zotero
EndNote
-
1.
UNICEF , 2021. Migration. Available at: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-migration-and-displacement/migration/. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
2.
O’Connell Davidson J, 2013. Telling tales: child migration and child trafficking. Child Abuse Negl 37: 1069–1079.
-
3.
Abubakar I et al., 2018. The UCL–Lancet Commission on Migration and Health: the health of a world on the move. Lancet 392: 2606–2654.
-
4.
Save the Children , 2019. Venezuela Regional Migration Crisis: Who Are the Children Most at Risk? Available at: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/stc_venezuela_final_web_090718.pdf/. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
5.
UNICEF , Venezuela Migrant Crisis: 1.1 Million Children across the Region Will Need Assistance in 2019, Up from Nearly Half a Million Today – UNICEF. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/venezuela-migrant-crisis-11-million-children-across-region-will-need-assistance-2019. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
6.
UNICEF , Convention on the Rights of the Child Text. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/convention-text. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
7.
Jaramillo L, 2007. Concepciones de Infancia. Available at: https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=85300809. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
8.
Jud A, Pfeiffer E, Jarczok M, 2020. Epidemiology of violence against children in migration: a systematic literature review. Child Abuse Negl 108: 104634.
-
9.
Higuita NA et al., 2022. U.S. bound journey of migrant peoples InTransit across Dante’s Inferno and Purgatory in the Americas. Travel Med Infect Dis 47: 102317.
-
10.
Statz M & Heidbrink L. Unintended trauma: the role of public health policy in the detention of migrant children. Lancet Reg Health Am 2:100012.
-
11.
MIGRACIÓN - Irregulares en Tránsito por Darién por País 2022. Available at: https://www.datosabiertos.gob.pa/dataset/migracion-irregulares-en-transito-por-darien-por-pais-2022. Accessed October 3, 2022.
-
12.
Organización Internacional para las Migraciones , 2022. Tendencias Migratorias en Centroamérica, Norteamérica y El Caribe. Available at: https://rosanjose.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1446/files/documents/sitrep_jun-2022.pdf. Accessed October 3, 2022.
-
13.
UNICEF , 2022. Twice More Children Migrating through the Panama Darien Gap This Year. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/twice-more-children-migrating-through-the-panama-darien-gap-this-year. Accessed October 3, 2022.
-
14.
UNICEF , 2022. Record Number of Children Crossing the Darién Gap towards the US This Year. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/record-number-of-children-crossing-Darién-gap-towards-us-this-year. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
15.
Reuters , 2023. At Least 60,000 Minors Set to Cross Darién Gap in 2023, U.N. Says. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/least-60000-minors-set-cross-dangerous-panama-colombia-jungle-gap-2023-says-un-2023-02-18/. Accessed March 7, 2023.
-
16.
Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021. Red Book: 2021–2024 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 32nd edition. Kimberlin DW, Barnett ED, Lynfield R, Sawyer MH, eds. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
-
17.
Hernandez DJ, College H & Napierala JS. 2012. Children in Immigrant Families: Essential to America’s Future. Foundation for Child Development. Available at: https://www.fcd-us.org/children-in-immigrant-families-essential-to-americas-future/. Accessed June 27, 2023.
-
18.
Ayala GX, Baquero B, Klinger S, 2008. A systematic review of the relationship between acculturation and diet among Latinos in the United States: implications for future research. J Am Diet Assoc 108: 1330–1344.
-
19.
Thacher TD, Pludowski P, Shaw NJ, Mughal MZ, Munns CF, Högler W, 2016. Nutritional rickets in immigrant and refugee children. Public Health Rev 37: 3.
-
20.
Carter RC, Jacobson JL, Burden MJ, Armony-Sivan R, Dodge NC, Angelilli ML, Lozoff B, Jacobson SW, 2010. Iron deficiency anemia and cognitive function in infancy. Pediatrics 126: e427–e434.
-
21.
Mipatrini D, Stefanelli P, Severoni S, Rezza G, 2017. Vaccinations in migrants and refugees: a challenge for European health systems. A systematic review of current scientific evidence. Pathog Glob Health 111: 59–68.
-
22.
Shetty AK, 2019. Infectious diseases among refugee children. Children (Basel) 6: 129.
-
23.
Pan American Health Organization , 2022. Number of Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Cases in the Americas. Available at: https://ais.paho.org/phip/viz/im_vaccinepreventablediseases.asp. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
24.
Abdi I, Gidding H, Leong RN, Moore HC, Seale H, Menzies R, 2021. Vaccine coverage in children born to migrant mothers in Australia: a population-based cohort study. Vaccine 39: 984–993.
-
25.
Belhassen-García M, Pardo-Lledías J, Del Villar LP, Velasco-Tirado V, Ruiz MS, Cordero-Sánchez M, Vicente B, Egido SH, Bellido JLM, Muro A, 2017. Screening for parasite infections in immigrant children from low-income countries. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 35: 27–32.
-
26.
Abaya M, Lesley B, Williams C, Chaves-Gnecco D, Flores G, 2021. Forcible displacement, migration, and violence against children and families in Latin America. Pediatr Clin North Am 68: 371–387.
-
27.
UNICEF , Migrant and Displaced Children: Children on the Move Are Children First. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/migrant-refugee-internally-displaced-children. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
28.
UNICEF , Watkins K , 2016. The State of the World’s Children. A Fair Chance for Every Child. New York, NY: UNICEF.
-
29.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division , 2020. International Migration 2020 Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/452). Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/undesa_pd_2020_international_migration_highlights.pdf. Accessed June 27, 2023.
-
30.
Fellmeth G et al., 2018. Health impacts of parental migration on left-behind children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 392: 2567–2582.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 2886 | 1571 | 104 |
| Full Text Views | 604 | 190 | 19 |
| PDF Downloads | 247 | 103 | 2 |
The Endless Vulnerability of Migrant Children In-Transit across the Darién Gap
Laura Naranjo
Laura Naranjo
GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines CARICAM, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SNI-Senacyt, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Laura Naranjo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SNI-Senacyt, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Laura Naranjo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Yesenia Williams
Yesenia Williams
Hospital de Niños José Renán Esquivel, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Yesenia Williams in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Yesenia Williams in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Jacqueline Levy
Jacqueline Levy
Hospital de Niños José Renán Esquivel, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Jacqueline Levy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Jacqueline Levy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Rosela Obando
Rosela Obando
Caja del Seguro Social, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Rosela Obando in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Rosela Obando in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
José A. González
José A. González
Hospital Irma De Lourdes Tzanetato, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by José A. González in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by José A. González in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Mónica Pachar
Mónica Pachar
Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Hospital Oncológico, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Mónica Pachar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Hospital Oncológico, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Mónica Pachar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Roderick Chen
Roderick Chen
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Roderick Chen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Roderick Chen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Carlos Franco-Paredes
Carlos Franco-Paredes
Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, Mexico DF, Mexico;
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado;
Search for other papers by Carlos Franco-Paredes in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado;
Search for other papers by Carlos Franco-Paredes in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Nelson Agudelo Higuita
Nelson Agudelo Higuita
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
Search for other papers by Nelson Agudelo Higuita in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Nelson Agudelo Higuita in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Andrés Henao-Martínez
Andrés Henao-Martínez
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado;
Search for other papers by Andrés Henao-Martínez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Andrés Henao-Martínez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Yamilka Diaz
Yamilka Diaz
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Search for other papers by Yamilka Diaz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Yamilka Diaz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
José A. Suárez
José A. Suárez
Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SNI-Senacyt, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad de Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Facultad de Ciencias de la salud, Uisek, Ecuador
Search for other papers by José A. Suárez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad de Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama;
Facultad de Ciencias de la salud, Uisek, Ecuador
Search for other papers by José A. Suárez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
ABSTRACT.
Many people from poverty-stricken countries are migrating across South and Central America to reach the México–United States border, a movement exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Migrant people who begin their northbound journey in South America must transit across a significant geographic bottleneck, the Darién Gap, a mountainous rainforest region between Colombia and Panama. Most migrant people crossing this region originate from Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela. Other people reach the shores of South American countries from west and central Africa or central and southeastern Asia and continue to the Darién Gap. Poverty and violence drive families with children to flee their homes and endure incalculable risks in their path. Children traveling with their families or as unaccompanied minors across the Darién Gap are exposed to life-threatening situations and human rights violations, including abuse, exploitation, malnourishment, and limited access to medical care. In addition to experiencing untreated medical illnesses, children experience mental health disorders during migration and after they reach their destination as a result of victimization and adverse traumatic experiences. Therefore, providing migrants, especially children, with rapid medical screenings and mental health support when they arrive at their destination is critical to reduce health inequities. Furthermore, making these interventions available during their transit and ensuring their safety may prevent further human rights abuses in children and families. Latin American governments must address the ongoing humanitarian crisis endured by migrants throughout their migratory path by offering access to essential healthcare services and safeguarding the rights and security of children and vulnerable groups.
Author Notes
Disclosure: L. N. is a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) employee. All the information in this paper is her opinion and does not reflect the position of GSK.
Authors’ addresses: Laura Naranjo, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines CARICAM, Panama City, Republic of Panama, and Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SNI-Senacyt, Panama City, Republic of Panama, E-mail: naranjo.laura1@gmail.com. Yesenia Williams and Jacqueline Levy, Hospital de Niños José Renán Esquivel, Panama City, Republic of Panama, E-mails: ywilliams30@gmail.com and lini09@hotmail.com. Rosela Obando, Caja del Seguro Social, Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama, E-mail: roselaobando@criptext.com. José A. González, Hospital Irma De Lourdes Tzanetato, Panama City, Republic of Panama, E-mail: joseanelgr@gmail.com. Mónica Pachar, Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama, and Hospital Oncológico, Panama City, Republic of Panama, E-mail: dra.pachar17@gmail.com. Roderick Chen and Yamilka Diaz, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas, Panama City, Republic of Panama, E-mails: chen.roderick@gmail.com and ydiaz@gorgas.gob.pa. Carlos Franco-Paredes, Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, Mexico DF, Mexico, and Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, E-mail: carlos.franco.paredes@gmail.com. Nelson Agudelo Higuita, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, E-mail: nelson-agudelo-higuita@ouhsc.edu. Andrés Henao-Martínez, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, E-mail: andres.henaomartinez@cuanschutz.edu. José A. Suárez, Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SNI-Senacyt, Panama City, Republic of Panama, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad de Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama, and Facultad de Ciencias de la salud, Uisek, Ecuador, E-mails: jasuarez05@gmail.com.
ProCite
RefWorks
Reference Manager
BibTeX
Zotero
EndNote
-
1.
UNICEF , 2021. Migration. Available at: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-migration-and-displacement/migration/. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
2.
O’Connell Davidson J, 2013. Telling tales: child migration and child trafficking. Child Abuse Negl 37: 1069–1079.
-
3.
Abubakar I et al., 2018. The UCL–Lancet Commission on Migration and Health: the health of a world on the move. Lancet 392: 2606–2654.
-
4.
Save the Children , 2019. Venezuela Regional Migration Crisis: Who Are the Children Most at Risk? Available at: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/stc_venezuela_final_web_090718.pdf/. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
5.
UNICEF , Venezuela Migrant Crisis: 1.1 Million Children across the Region Will Need Assistance in 2019, Up from Nearly Half a Million Today – UNICEF. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/venezuela-migrant-crisis-11-million-children-across-region-will-need-assistance-2019. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
6.
UNICEF , Convention on the Rights of the Child Text. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/convention-text. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
7.
Jaramillo L, 2007. Concepciones de Infancia. Available at: https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=85300809. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
8.
Jud A, Pfeiffer E, Jarczok M, 2020. Epidemiology of violence against children in migration: a systematic literature review. Child Abuse Negl 108: 104634.
-
9.
Higuita NA et al., 2022. U.S. bound journey of migrant peoples InTransit across Dante’s Inferno and Purgatory in the Americas. Travel Med Infect Dis 47: 102317.
-
10.
Statz M & Heidbrink L. Unintended trauma: the role of public health policy in the detention of migrant children. Lancet Reg Health Am 2:100012.
-
11.
MIGRACIÓN - Irregulares en Tránsito por Darién por País 2022. Available at: https://www.datosabiertos.gob.pa/dataset/migracion-irregulares-en-transito-por-darien-por-pais-2022. Accessed October 3, 2022.
-
12.
Organización Internacional para las Migraciones , 2022. Tendencias Migratorias en Centroamérica, Norteamérica y El Caribe. Available at: https://rosanjose.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1446/files/documents/sitrep_jun-2022.pdf. Accessed October 3, 2022.
-
13.
UNICEF , 2022. Twice More Children Migrating through the Panama Darien Gap This Year. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/twice-more-children-migrating-through-the-panama-darien-gap-this-year. Accessed October 3, 2022.
-
14.
UNICEF , 2022. Record Number of Children Crossing the Darién Gap towards the US This Year. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/record-number-of-children-crossing-Darién-gap-towards-us-this-year. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
15.
Reuters , 2023. At Least 60,000 Minors Set to Cross Darién Gap in 2023, U.N. Says. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/least-60000-minors-set-cross-dangerous-panama-colombia-jungle-gap-2023-says-un-2023-02-18/. Accessed March 7, 2023.
-
16.
Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021. Red Book: 2021–2024 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 32nd edition. Kimberlin DW, Barnett ED, Lynfield R, Sawyer MH, eds. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
-
17.
Hernandez DJ, College H & Napierala JS. 2012. Children in Immigrant Families: Essential to America’s Future. Foundation for Child Development. Available at: https://www.fcd-us.org/children-in-immigrant-families-essential-to-americas-future/. Accessed June 27, 2023.
-
18.
Ayala GX, Baquero B, Klinger S, 2008. A systematic review of the relationship between acculturation and diet among Latinos in the United States: implications for future research. J Am Diet Assoc 108: 1330–1344.
-
19.
Thacher TD, Pludowski P, Shaw NJ, Mughal MZ, Munns CF, Högler W, 2016. Nutritional rickets in immigrant and refugee children. Public Health Rev 37: 3.
-
20.
Carter RC, Jacobson JL, Burden MJ, Armony-Sivan R, Dodge NC, Angelilli ML, Lozoff B, Jacobson SW, 2010. Iron deficiency anemia and cognitive function in infancy. Pediatrics 126: e427–e434.
-
21.
Mipatrini D, Stefanelli P, Severoni S, Rezza G, 2017. Vaccinations in migrants and refugees: a challenge for European health systems. A systematic review of current scientific evidence. Pathog Glob Health 111: 59–68.
-
22.
Shetty AK, 2019. Infectious diseases among refugee children. Children (Basel) 6: 129.
-
23.
Pan American Health Organization , 2022. Number of Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Cases in the Americas. Available at: https://ais.paho.org/phip/viz/im_vaccinepreventablediseases.asp. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
24.
Abdi I, Gidding H, Leong RN, Moore HC, Seale H, Menzies R, 2021. Vaccine coverage in children born to migrant mothers in Australia: a population-based cohort study. Vaccine 39: 984–993.
-
25.
Belhassen-García M, Pardo-Lledías J, Del Villar LP, Velasco-Tirado V, Ruiz MS, Cordero-Sánchez M, Vicente B, Egido SH, Bellido JLM, Muro A, 2017. Screening for parasite infections in immigrant children from low-income countries. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 35: 27–32.
-
26.
Abaya M, Lesley B, Williams C, Chaves-Gnecco D, Flores G, 2021. Forcible displacement, migration, and violence against children and families in Latin America. Pediatr Clin North Am 68: 371–387.
-
27.
UNICEF , Migrant and Displaced Children: Children on the Move Are Children First. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/migrant-refugee-internally-displaced-children. Accessed March 1, 2023.
-
28.
UNICEF , Watkins K , 2016. The State of the World’s Children. A Fair Chance for Every Child. New York, NY: UNICEF.
-
29.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division , 2020. International Migration 2020 Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/452). Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/undesa_pd_2020_international_migration_highlights.pdf. Accessed June 27, 2023.
-
30.
Fellmeth G et al., 2018. Health impacts of parental migration on left-behind children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 392: 2567–2582.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 2886 | 1571 | 104 |
| Full Text Views | 604 | 190 | 19 |
| PDF Downloads | 247 | 103 | 2 |