Precarious employment and health: A qualitative study in Venezuelan immigrant population in Colombia

Abstract

Highlights Precarious employment constitutes an axis of analysis of health inequalities in vulnerable populations, such as immigrants. Most studies have focused on migratory movements between countries with different levels of wealth (SouthNorth contexts). The Venezuelan immigrant population is in a situation of precarious employment and high vulnerability. Precarious employment impacts immigrants’ health conditions and increases their exposure to occupational risks.

A Qualitative Study of the Health Perceptions in the Venezuelan Immigrant Population in Medellín (Colombia) and Its Conditioning Factors

“…However, in the case of the Venezuelan groups, migrants tended to be lower-middle-class people who sought a destination country with geographic proximity, which is consistent with findings reported by oral health studies conducted in South Asia [ 22 , 36 ], allowing them to reduce travel costs and, in some cases, avoid border checkpoints. This population, as has been reported [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], tends to be in low-skilled jobs without affiliation to the social security system, which is mostly, according to our results, the state of irregularity in which most Venezuelans found themselves.…”

“…This study explored the perceptions of the state of general health and particularly oral health of the Venezuelan migrant population and the conditioning factors. According to the findings of previous studies [ 7 , 34 ], migrants leave their country mainly due to a lack of work, political-ideological problems, insecurity and violence, wars, ethnic-religious persecution, and socioeconomic problems. This is consistent with the results of this study, as the structural problems of Venezuela are directly associated with the political, social, and economic instability that the country has been experiencing in recent years [ 7 ].…”

“…Regarding health, its concept is related to physical and mental well-being and the absence of symptoms. Likewise, the self-perception of health status in the migrant population in some studies has been reported as good or very good [ 7 , 37 , 38 ], including a study carried out among Venezuelans living in the city of Barranquilla (Colombia) [ 6 ]. In our findings, the migrants perceived themselves to be in good general health in most of the interviews.…”

“…Presenteeism is a public health concern and is associated with a loss of productivity, future sickness absenteeism, and other health affectations [ 49 ]. Further research focused on this aspect should include presenteeism by studying employment and working conditions and their impact on health in the Venezuelan population in Colombia [ 7 ].…”

“…Migración Colombia—Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Colombia Migration—Ministry of Foreign Affairs) reported that over 1.7 million Venezuelans are in Colombia, which is a third of its global migrant population [ 4 ]. Regarding specific research about the health situation and related factors in this population in Colombia, some studies with varying methodological approaches have been carried out, such as case studies and descriptive studies, to investigate the health needs of the Venezuelan population in particular contexts and the precarious employment and its impact on the health of the working population [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. However, it seems necessary to provide further scientific evidence regarding many aspects that have not been answered, taking into account social determinants and other particularities in this population.…”