Funding: Those left behind

17 February 2006

Many developing countries are experiencing extensive population migrations. The health of migrants receives considerable attention, but what about those 'left behind'?

With new project grant support, Professor Martin Prince of the Institute of Psychiatry, and colleagues at Mahidol University in Thailand, will be studying the impact of 'out-migration' in an area of western Thailand.

Generally, those left behind will be older adults, who are less mobile than their younger compatriots. This may have a negative impact, undermining their social roles or removing valuable support networks, but very little is currently known about how older adults are affected.

The project will build on an existing demographic study in Kanchanaburi province, established in 2000 by Dr Bencha Yoddumnern-Attig and colleagues with Wellcome Trust support.