The Access to Antenatal and Postpartum Care Services of Migrant Workers in the Greater Mekong Subregion: The Role of Acculturative Stress and Social Support

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to determine whether social support and acculturative stress were related to obtaining antenatal and postpartum care for pregnant female migrants, as well as access to health care for migrant children. The study utilized data of 987 migrant workers in Thailand who originated from hill tribes and mountain communities in Myanmar and Cambodia. Regression analysis showed that the language barrier, a crucial factor behind acculturative stress, adversely influenced access to maternal care. Social support reduced the impact of acculturative stress. Migrants with support are more likely to access health care. Based on the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, more sources of support either from friends, family members, or other supporters who are significant could increase health care access. Besides friends and family, the support from the Migrant Health Worker Program and Migrant Health Volunteer Program allowed the formal health sector to utilize the informal social networks to improve care for migrants.

Migrant Workers and Psychological Health: A Systematic Review

“…Social support reduced the impact of acculturative stress and migrants with support are more likely to access health care. Holumyong's study utilized data of 987 migrant workers in Thailand, and the results confirmed the importance of acculturative stress and social support among this group of migrants; the language barrier, a crucial factor behind acculturative stress, adversely influenced access to maternal care [123].…”

Acculturative stress and coping among migrant workers: A global mixed‐methods systematic review

“…Given the association between acculturative stress and well‐being, addressing this key driver of illness in the population should be a critical priority. The medical cost of migrant workers covered by their employer and host government can be minimized if migrant workers’ health and wellness can be maintained (Holumyong et al, 2018).…”

Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of Maternal and Neonatal Health services in Public Hospitals of district Dera Ghazi Khan

“…For this research, maternal health care was included antenatal care, trained birth attendants, and postnatal care. Antenatal care among healthcare services is an important determinant for the continuum of care for safe pregnancy and child delivery [3,4] . Adequate antenatal care allows early detection of disease and its timely treatment to improve maternal health outcomes.…”