Rev Cuid. 2025; 16(1): e4621

https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4621

EDITORIAL

Research with undocumented migrant participants

 

Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Enfermería. Santiago, Chile. Email: daniella.cancino@unab.cl Correspondence Author Daniella Cancino-Jiménez
Center for Research in Health Systems (CISS), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Morelos, México. Email: rene.leyva@insp.mx René Leyva Flores
Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Enfermería. Santiago, Chile. Email: miguel.valencia@unab.cl Miguel Valencia-Contrera
Universidad de Santiago, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Santiago, Chile. Email: jorge.cancino@usach.cl Jorge Cancino-Jiménez
Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Enfermería. Santiago, Chile. Email: naldy.febre@unab.cl Naldy Febré

Highlights

 

How to cite this article: Cancino-Jiménez Daniella, Leyva Flores René, Valencia-Contrera Miguel, Cancino-Jiménez Jorge, Febré Naldy. Research with undocumented migrant participants. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(1): e4621. https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4621

Received: November 11th 2024
Accepted: December 6th de 2024
Published: December 19th 2024

CreativeCommons 

E-ISSN: 2346-3414

Globally, migration is increasing at an accelerated and sustained rate, driven by social, political, and economic factors that prompt the displacement of people across countries, resulting in significant migratory waves1-4. It is estimated that there are 272 million international migrants worldwide3. Migration is defined by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as the “Movement of persons away from their place of usual residence, either across an international border or within a State”5.

In the specific case of the American continent, the situation of the Venezuelan population is particularly noteworthy today. As the country's situation persists or fails to improve over time, massive returns have not occurred. Instead, the economic and social integration processes of Venezuelan migrants in their host countries are strengthened6.

From a health perspective, migration is recognized as a social determinant of health (SDH), as it brings about important lifestyle changes associated with the migration process itself (pre-, during, and post-migration phases)7. It often intersects and conflicts with other SDHs, such as access to healthcare, education, social status, and working conditions. Consequently, the migrant population faces heightened physical and mental health risks, along with increased healthcare inequalities (reduced access, coercion, among other challenges). Additionally, migrants encounter barriers such as issues with acceptability and dissatisfaction with health communication, which heighten their vulnerability by discouraging the use of health services due to discriminatory treatment and racism8-15.

Within this already vulnerable population, there is a subgroup that experiences an exacerbation of the challenges described above: 'irregular or undocumented migrants.' Their situation is further compounded by additional barriers, including the need to remain permanently in the host country, fear of fines, violence, imprisonment, deportation, and stigmatization15,16.

In this context, which has significant implications for public health, continuing and expanding existing research efforts is imperative. These efforts form the scientific foundation necessary to develop and deliver health responses that are coherent, effective, and efficient, addressing the new and diverse needs arising from sociodemographic, political, and epidemiological changes. Such responses must also be relevant and culturally appropriate to the evolving characteristics and population compositions across different regions of the world. It is essential to understand the needs of this population group.

In this line, within research contexts, upholding and adhering to ethical principles that protect this population is essential. This includes addressing the challenges of collecting information due to fears of being reported, the heightened vulnerability associated with the migratory process, and the complex political, social, economic, and health contexts in which they find themselves.

While international ethical standards aim to ensure the respect and protection of all research participants, studies involving migrants—who often live in a state of continuous social suffering—require additional safeguards. It is necessary to monitor the information generated, the methodological procedures employed, and the approaches and interactions used17.

In this context, the 2016 international ethical guidelines for health-related research involving human subjects provided recommendations for the special protection of potentially vulnerable individuals. These include ensuring that procedures posing no potential individual benefit to participants involve no more than minimal risk and requiring that research be conducted only when it addresses conditions specifically affecting these groups18.

Given that research is an intentional process, it is essential to establish ethical guidelines or frameworks to be followed at every stage and ensure the protection of participants' dignity, integrity, and safety. In this sense, in matters of migration, it is unavoidable to complement these general ethical frameworks with specific considerations, accounting for the social nature of the migratory phenomenon, the theoretical advances in the field19, human rights, the cultural characteristics of the participants20, and their life histories, among other factors.

From this perspective, it is crucial to prevent symbolic violence, which can manifest through asymmetrical relationships between researchers and study participants, the imposition of the researcher's own conceptual frameworks, and hierarchical dynamics of superiority and inferiority19. Similarly, in intercultural or global research, a pluriversal ethical framework is necessary, aiming to strike a balance between respecting human rights and cultural diversity20.

A notable aspect now acknowledged is that 'migration is a total social fact that makes it particularly complex to develop a set of ethical principles to guide research practices,'19 given the countless multicultural characteristics and the immense diversity of contexts on a global scale20.

However, as a society, addressing these aspects with a central focus on the human dimension becomes a crucial driving force for promoting social integration and inclusion. In this regard, respect for human rights is seen as a tool for promoting the fulfillment of basic developmental needs, non-discrimination, and physical and psychological integrity. It is characterized by its universality and inclusivity, emphasizing elements such as integrality, interdependence, collectivity, and equity21.

Finally, the participation of undocumented migrants in research is a controversial issue that raises several ethical concerns. Interacting with research teams lacking the necessary skills and sensitivity further exacerbates the social suffering they endure. Consequently, there is an urgent need to find guidance tools on how to protect this vulnerable population.

Iterative reflection aimed at balancing cultural diversity, respect for international conventions or agreements, and the legislation in force in the countries where research is conducted would facilitate the adoption of ethical approaches to studies involving migrant participants. This process would enable the making of ethically sound and justified decisions22.

Given the nature of the irregular migration phenomenon, risks and vulnerabilities coexist, demanding special attention to give a coherent response that safeguards security and confidentiality throughout the research process in contexts where participants could be disadvantaged by the production of information, exposing them to psychological, physical, or legal risks.

Nursing science is particularly relevant in this area. Although it faces limitations and challenges, it offers unique conditions, competencies, and a well-developed theoretical foundation. Grounded in its metaparadigm—which considers the interaction between the person, the environment or society, health, and nursing—nursing science provides models and theories that guide both clinical practice and research. Thus, the ethical knowledge inherent to the discipline helps clarify conflicts and facilitates the exploration of alternatives based on principles and values23 as part of critical thinking and nursing actions.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Funding: This research did not receive any external funding.

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Referencias

Organización Mundial de la Salud. El derecho a la salud [Internet]. Folleto Informativo N.°31. Ginebra; 2008. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024 Disponible en:https://www.ohchr.org/es/publications/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-no-31-right-health

X

Referencias

Organización Mundial de la Salud. Promoción de la salud de los refugiados y los migrantes [Internet]. 2017 p. 1–18. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024 Disponible en: https://www.who.int/es/health-topics/refugee-and-migrant-health#tab=tab_1

X

Referencias

Organización Internacional para las Migraciones. Informe sobre las migraciones en el mundo 2020 [Internet]. Ginebra; 2019. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024 Disponible en: https://publications.iom.int/books/informe-sobre-las-migraciones-en-el-mundo-2020

X

Referencias

Cabieses B, Bernales M, McIntyre A. La migración internacional como determinante social de la salud en Chile: evidencia y propuestas para políticas públicas [Internet]. Universidad del Desarrollo; 2017. p. 520 Disponible en: http://hdl.handle.net/11447/1461

X

Referencias

Organización Internacional para las Migraciones. Derecho Internacional sobre Migración. Glosario de la OIM sobre Migración [Internet]. Ginebra; 2019. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024. Disponible en: https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml-34-glossary-es.pdf

X

Referencias

ACNUR – UCAB. Perfil de la migración reciente reportada desde los hogares venezolanos. ENCOVI 2017-2023 [Internet]. Caracas;2023. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024. Disponible en: https://www.acnur.org/publicaciones/perfil-de-la-migracion-reciente-reportada-desde-los-hogares-venezolanos

X

Referencias

Ministerio de Salud. Subsecretaría de Redes Asistenciales. Orientaciones para la implementación del Modelo de Atención Integral de Salud Familiar y Comunitaria [Internet]. Santiago de Chile; 2012. Consulta: Agosto 19, 2024. Disponible en: https://www.minsal.cl/portal/url/item/e7b24eef3e5cb5d1e0400101650128e9.pdf

X

Referencias

Close C, Kouvonen A, Bosqui T, Patel K, O’Reilly D, Donnelly M. The mental health and wellbeing of first generation migrants: A systematic-narrative review of reviews. Global Health. 2016;12(1):1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12992-016-0187-3

X

Referencias

Cabieses B, Chepo M, Oyarte M, Markkula N, Bustos P, Pedrero V et al. Brechas de desigualdad en salud en niños migrantes versus locales en Chile. Rev Chil Pediatr. 2017;88(6):707–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0370-41062017000600707

X

Referencias

Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia Gobierno de Chile. Encuesta de caracterización socioeconómica nacional (CASEN) síntesis de resultados situacion de salud [Internet]. 2017. Consulta: Agosto 19, 2024. Disponible en: http://observatorio.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/encuesta-casen-2017

X

Referencias

Nørredam M. Migration and health: exploring the role of migrant status through register-based studies. Dan Med J. 2015;62(4):B5068. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25872539/

X

Referencias

Leonhardt M, Aschenbrenner K, Kreis ME, Lauscher JC. Exploring the characteristics and potential disparities of non-migrant and migrant colorectal cancer patients regarding their satisfaction and subjective perception of care - A cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3232-5

X

Referencias

Cabieses B, Rada I. Reporte situacional: El caso de migrantes internacionales en Chile durante la pandemia de COVID-19 [Internet]. 2021. Consulta: Agosto 19, 2024. Disponible en: https://migrationhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Lancet-Migration-Situational-brief-on-Chile-02-ES.pdf

X

Referencias

Cabieses B, Obach A. Vulnerabilidades y recursos de comunidades migrantes internacionales en Chile para enfrentar la pandemia SARS-CoV2: Construyendo estrategias diferenciadas desde la interculturalidad [Internet]. Santiago de Chile; 2021. Consulta: Agosto 22, 2024. Disponible en: https://repositorio.udd.cl/bitstream/handle/11447/6583/Transcripciones.pdf?sequence=1

X

Referencias

Ministerio de Salud. Gobierno de Chile. Política de Salud de Migrantes Internacionales [Internet]. Santiago de Chile; 2018. Consulta: Agosto 22, 2024 Disponible en: https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2018.01.22.POLITICA-DE-SALUD-DE-MIGRANTES.pdf

X

Referencias

Hawkey AJ, Ussher JM, Perz J. What do women want ? Migrant and refugee women ’s preferences for the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare and information healthcare and information. Ethn Health. 2022;27(8):1787–805. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2021.1980772

X

Referencias

Tijoux Merino ME, Ambiado Cortés C, Veloso Luarte V. Comprensión, confianza y ética en las entrevistas con personas migrantes. Empiria Rev Metodol Ciencias Soc. 2023;58:15–34. https://doi.org/10.5944/empiria.58.2023.37378

X

Referencias

Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Consejo de Organizaciones Internacionales de las Ciencias Médica. Pautas éticas internacionales para la investigación relacionada con la salud con seres humanos. Cuarta Edi. Ginebra; 2016. 134p. Consulta: Agosto 22, 2024. Disponible en: https://cioms.ch/wp- content/uploads/2017/12/CIOMSEthicalGuideline_SP_INTERIOR-FINAL.pdf

X

Referencias

López R. “ No nos sentimos identificadas”. La ética de lo concreto en los procesos de investigación con personas migrantes. REMHU, Rev Interdiscip Mobil Hum. 2017;25(50):81–96. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-85852503880005006

X

Referencias

Guerra C, Pinto-Cortez C, Peña F, Toro E, Calia C, Reid C et al. Un modelo para favorecer la ética y las buenas prácticas en investigación global e intercultural : aplicaciones en México y Chile. Pers Bioet. 2021;25(2):e2524. https://doi.org/10.5294/pebi.2021.25.2.4

X

Referencias

Franco-Giraldo Á, Álvarez-Dardet C. Derechos humanos, una oportunidad para las políticas públicas en salud. Gac Sanit. 2008;22(3):280–6. https://doi.org/10.1157/13123975

X

Referencias

Onarheim KH, Wickramage K, Ingleby D, Subramani S, Miljeteig I. Adopting an ethical approach to migration health policy , practice and research. BMJ Glob Heal [Internet]. 2021;e(e006425):2–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006425

X

Referencias

Chinn PL, Kramer MK. Knowledge Development in Nursing. 9th Eds. Elsevier, editor. Missouri; 2014.

 

References

  1. Organización Mundial de la Salud. El derecho a la salud [Internet]. Folleto Informativo N.°31. Ginebra; 2008. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024 Disponible en:https://www.ohchr.org/es/publications/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-no-31-right-health

  2. Organización Mundial de la Salud. Promoción de la salud de los refugiados y los migrantes [Internet]. 2017 p. 1–18. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024 Disponible en: https://www.who.int/es/health-topics/refugee-and-migrant-health#tab=tab_1

  3. Organización Internacional para las Migraciones. Informe sobre las migraciones en el mundo 2020 [Internet]. Ginebra; 2019. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024 Disponible en: https://publications.iom.int/books/informe-sobre-las-migraciones-en-el-mundo-2020

  4. Cabieses B, Bernales M, McIntyre A. La migración internacional como determinante social de la salud en Chile: evidencia y propuestas para políticas públicas [Internet]. Universidad del Desarrollo; 2017. p. 520 Disponible en: http://hdl.handle.net/11447/1461

  5. Organización Internacional para las Migraciones. Derecho Internacional sobre Migración. Glosario de la OIM sobre Migración [Internet]. Ginebra; 2019. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024. Disponible en: https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml-34-glossary-es.pdf

  6. ACNUR – UCAB. Perfil de la migración reciente reportada desde los hogares venezolanos. ENCOVI 2017-2023 [Internet]. Caracas;2023. Consulta: Agosto 15, 2024. Disponible en: https://www.acnur.org/publicaciones/perfil-de-la-migracion-reciente-reportada-desde-los-hogares-venezolanos

  7. Ministerio de Salud. Subsecretaría de Redes Asistenciales. Orientaciones para la implementación del Modelo de Atención Integral de Salud Familiar y Comunitaria [Internet]. Santiago de Chile; 2012. Consulta: Agosto 19, 2024. Disponible en: https://www.minsal.cl/portal/url/item/e7b24eef3e5cb5d1e0400101650128e9.pdf

  8. Close C, Kouvonen A, Bosqui T, Patel K, O’Reilly D, Donnelly M. The mental health and wellbeing of first generation migrants: A systematic-narrative review of reviews. Global Health. 2016;12(1):1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12992-016-0187-3

  9. Cabieses B, Chepo M, Oyarte M, Markkula N, Bustos P, Pedrero V et al. Brechas de desigualdad en salud en niños migrantes versus locales en Chile. Rev Chil Pediatr. 2017;88(6):707–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0370-41062017000600707

  10. Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia Gobierno de Chile. Encuesta de caracterización socioeconómica nacional (CASEN) síntesis de resultados situacion de salud [Internet]. 2017. Consulta: Agosto 19, 2024. Disponible en: http://observatorio.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/encuesta-casen-2017

  11. Nørredam M. Migration and health: exploring the role of migrant status through register-based studies. Dan Med J. 2015;62(4):B5068. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25872539/

  12. Leonhardt M, Aschenbrenner K, Kreis ME, Lauscher JC. Exploring the characteristics and potential disparities of non-migrant and migrant colorectal cancer patients regarding their satisfaction and subjective perception of care - A cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3232-5

  13. Cabieses B, Rada I. Reporte situacional: El caso de migrantes internacionales en Chile durante la pandemia de COVID-19 [Internet]. 2021. Consulta: Agosto 19, 2024. Disponible en: https://migrationhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Lancet-Migration-Situational-brief-on-Chile-02-ES.pdf

  14. Cabieses B, Obach A. Vulnerabilidades y recursos de comunidades migrantes internacionales en Chile para enfrentar la pandemia SARS-CoV2: Construyendo estrategias diferenciadas desde la interculturalidad [Internet]. Santiago de Chile; 2021. Consulta: Agosto 22, 2024. Disponible en: https://repositorio.udd.cl/bitstream/handle/11447/6583/Transcripciones.pdf?sequence=1

  15. Ministerio de Salud. Gobierno de Chile. Política de Salud de Migrantes Internacionales [Internet]. Santiago de Chile; 2018. Consulta: Agosto 22, 2024 Disponible en: https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2018.01.22.POLITICA-DE-SALUD-DE-MIGRANTES.pdf

  16. Hawkey AJ, Ussher JM, Perz J. What do women want ? Migrant and refugee women ’s preferences for the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare and information healthcare and information. Ethn Health. 2022;27(8):1787–805. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2021.1980772

  17. Tijoux Merino ME, Ambiado Cortés C, Veloso Luarte V. Comprensión, confianza y ética en las entrevistas con personas migrantes. Empiria Rev Metodol Ciencias Soc. 2023;58:15–34. https://doi.org/10.5944/empiria.58.2023.37378

  18. Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Consejo de Organizaciones Internacionales de las Ciencias Médica. Pautas éticas internacionales para la investigación relacionada con la salud con seres humanos. Cuarta Edi. Ginebra; 2016. 134p. Consulta: Agosto 22, 2024. Disponible en: https://cioms.ch/wp- content/uploads/2017/12/CIOMSEthicalGuideline_SP_INTERIOR-FINAL.pdf

  19. López R. “ No nos sentimos identificadas”. La ética de lo concreto en los procesos de investigación con personas migrantes. REMHU, Rev Interdiscip Mobil Hum. 2017;25(50):81–96. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-85852503880005006

  20. Guerra C, Pinto-Cortez C, Peña F, Toro E, Calia C, Reid C et al. Un modelo para favorecer la ética y las buenas prácticas en investigación global e intercultural : aplicaciones en México y Chile. Pers Bioet. 2021;25(2):e2524. https://doi.org/10.5294/pebi.2021.25.2.4

  21. Franco-Giraldo Á, Álvarez-Dardet C. Derechos humanos, una oportunidad para las políticas públicas en salud. Gac Sanit. 2008;22(3):280–6. https://doi.org/10.1157/13123975

  22. Onarheim KH, Wickramage K, Ingleby D, Subramani S, Miljeteig I. Adopting an ethical approach to migration health policy , practice and research. BMJ Glob Heal [Internet]. 2021;e(e006425):2–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006425

  23. Chinn PL, Kramer MK. Knowledge Development in Nursing. 9th Eds. Elsevier, editor. Missouri; 2014.