Migration, Culture, and Rehabilitation: Advancing Equitable Health for All

Global migration is one of the most defining phenomena of the 21st century, reshaping societies and health systems worldwide. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the total number of international migrants has more than doubled in the last three decades. This demographic shift has brought rich cultural diversity but also new public health challenges. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) on social determinants of health (SDH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) has highlighted the profound influence of socio-cultural factors on health outcomes. However, in the field of rehabilitation science, empirical understanding of how migration and culture interact with health, disability, and recovery remains limited. The literature increasingly acknowledges that rehabilitation outcomes are shaped not only by physiological and psychological processes, but also by cultural beliefs, migration histories, and community contexts. Despite this recognition, robust, systematic evidence on the integration of socio-cultural dimensions in rehabilitation science is still lacking, particularly in the context of immigrants and refugees.This Research Topic aims to clarify how socio-cultural factors influence the health conditions of immigrants, and to explore their impact on the rehabilitation process, outcomes, and service delivery. It seeks to establish an integrative scientific framework that informs culturally competent and equitable rehabilitation practices across disciplines and settings. More specifically, it encourages research that identifies the mechanisms through which cultural, linguistic, demographic, and social determinants affect recovery trajectories and participation in rehabilitation services among immigrant populations. By doing so, it strives to contribute to the development of rehabilitation models that are responsive to cultural differences and foster inclusion and wellbeing for diverse communities.To gather further insights into the intersection between migration, culture, and rehabilitation science, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Anthropology of immigrants and rehabilitation- Sociology of immigrants and rehabilitation- Demographic research and real-world data analysis of immigrants and rehabilitation- Case studies and qualitative analyses of rehabilitation experiences among immigrants- Immigrants and medical, educational, vocational, and social rehabilitation- Access to social and health services by immigrants- Life cycle and rehabilitation needs of immigrants and multigenerational perspectives- Community-based rehabilitation and integration strategies- Influence of socio-cultural factors on physical and mental disabilities and disease- Effects of socio-cultural factors on health outcomes relevant to rehabilitation- Development of inclusive and supportive communities for immigrants with disabilities- Application of SDH and CLAS frameworks in rehabilitation for immigrants- Cultural and ethnic diversity among rehabilitation and disability service providers- Culturally and linguistically appropriate rehabilitation and disability services- Delivery of rehabilitation and disability services to refugees, particularly in the Global SouthWe welcome the following article types: Original Research, Review, Systematic Review, Case Report, Brief Research Report, and Perspective. Topic editors: Thilo Kroll, Makoto KONO, Yuri Sasaki Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81101/migration-culture-and-rehabilitation-advancing-equitable-health-for-all