Utilization of Health Care Services among Migrant Workers in Malaysia

Uddin, Md. Sayed; Akhtar, Rulia; Masud, Muhammad Mehedi; Hye, Qazi Muhammad Adnan

doi:10.18488/journal.73.2020.84.481.492

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Consistent with findings from other receiving countries, exclusion from universal health coverage and barriers to healthcare contributed to vulnerabilities encountered by migrant workers in this study [ 9 , 18 , 19 ]. Migrant workers’ exclusion from subsidized healthcare and financial assistance schemes in Singapore puts them at risk of high out-of-pocket medical costs and financial hardship [ 38 , 39 , 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Non-resident status often hinders migrant workers from accessing psychosocial support services that could buffer the effects of mental health issues [ 8 , 17 ]. Additionally, poor health literacy, linguistic and cultural differences often hamper migrant workers’ ability to seek timely healthcare [ 18 , 19 ] These barriers further exacerbate existing health inequalities and put migrant workers at a heightened risk of health adversities and poor health outcomes. While there is ample evidence indicating that migrant workers suffer from poorer mental health compared to resident populations, there is scant examination of the sources of vulnerability that predispose migrant workers to mental health disparities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“My young life, finished already?”: a qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage male migrant workers in Singapore

et al. 2023

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Background Increasing evidence shows low-wage migrant workers experience a high prevalence of mental health disorders and adverse health outcomes. Significant disparities in health services usage among migrant workers create added vulnerability to health complications. However, much remains unclear about how vulnerabilities are constructed in migrant worker populations. Additionally, no studies in Singapore have attempted to critically examine the degree to which social environment and structures affect the health and wellbeing of migrant workers. Therefore, this study aimed to critically situate the socio-structural factors creating conditions of vulnerability among migrant workers using a social stress perspective. Methods We conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews with migrant workers focused on individual life experiences, community experiences (individual and collective social capital), health (mental and physical health concerns) and stress response behaviours. We used a grounded theory approach to identify sources of stress and stress responses and uncover pathways to social vulnerabilities. Results Findings from 21 individual and 2 group interviews revealed that migrant workers were embedded in a cycle of chronic stress driven by structural factors that were mutually reinforced by stressors arising from their social environment. Socio-structural stressors enacted as poor living, working and social conditions resulted in their negative quality-of-life appraisal. Stressors arising from being “foreign” resulted in anticipated stigma, concealment, and healthcare avoidance. These factors synergistically created a persistent mental health burden for migrant workers. Conclusions Findings highlight the need to address the mental health burden placed on migrant workers and create avenues for migrant workers to seek psychosocial support to manage their stressors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“My young life, finished already?”: a qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage male migrant workers in Singapore

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Consistent with ndings from other receiving countries, exclusion from universal health coverage and barriers to healthcare contributed to vulnerabilities encountered by migrant workers in this study (9,18,19). Migrant workers' exclusion from subsidized healthcare and nancial assistance schemes in Singapore puts them at risk of high out-of-pocket medical costs and nancial hardship (33,34,61).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Non-resident status often hinders migrant workers from accessing psychosocial support services that could buffer the effects of mental health issues (8,17). Additionally, poor health literacy, linguistic and cultural differences often hamper migrant workers' ability to seek timely healthcare (18,19) These barriers further exacerbate existing health inequalities and put migrant workers at a heightened risk of health adversities and poor health outcomes. While there is ample evidence indicating that migrant workers suffer from poorer mental health compared to resident populations, there is scant examination of the sources of vulnerability that predispose migrant workers to mental health disparities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“My young life, finished already?”: A qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage migrant workers in Singapore

Farwin

Low

Howard

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background Increasing evidence shows low-wage migrant workers experience a high prevalence of mental health disorders and adverse health outcomes. Significant disparities in health services usage among migrant workers create added vulnerability to health complications. However, much remains unclear about how vulnerabilities are constructed in migrant worker populations. Additionally, no studies in Singapore have attempted to critically examine the degree to which social environment and structures affect the health and wellbeing of migrant workers. Therefore, this study aimed to critically situate the socio-structural factors creating conditions of vulnerability among migrant workers using a social stress perspective.Methods We conducted 21 individual semi-structured interviews and two group interviews with migrant workers focused on individual life experiences, community experiences (individual and collective social capital), health (mental and physical health concerns) and stress response behaviours. We used a grounded theory approach to identify sources of stress and stress responses and uncover pathways to social vulnerabilities.Results Migrant workers were embedded in a cycle of chronic stress driven by structural factors that were mutually reinforced by stressors arising from their social environment. Socio-structural stressors enacted as poor living, working and social conditions resulted in their negative quality-of-life appraisal. Stressors arising from being “foreign” resulted in anticipated stigma, concealment, and healthcare avoidance. These factors synergistically created a persistent mental health burden for migrant workers.Conclusions Findings highlight the need to address the mental health burden placed on migrant workers and create avenues for migrant workers to seek psychosocial support to manage their stressors.

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“…One study using a cross-sectional sample among migrant workers in Malaysia examined the influence of sociodemographic factors on the use of health services. Guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model, the results showed that predisposing factors namely marital status and education, and need factors namely self-rated health status, sickness, and chronic illnesses in the previous year were significant determinants of health service use among the study participants ( 20 ). In another study based on a stratified sample of migrants in Beijing, Andersen’s Behavioral Model was also used to demonstrate the effects of migrants’ predisposing, enabling and need characteristics on their use of health services.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining healthcare needs and decisions to seek health services among Venezuelan migrants living in Trinidad and Tobago using Andersen’s Behavioral Model

Lyons,

Bhagwandeen

2023

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionBeginning in 2016, Trinidad and Tobago experienced increasing flows of migrants and refugees from Venezuela. Through a Government Registration Exercise in 2019, followed by a Re-registration Exercise in 2020, migrants and refugees benefitted from access to publicly available primary care and emergency medical services. By applying Andersen’s Behavioral Model for Health Service Use, our study examined the non-communicable disease care needs of migrants, and factors influencing their decision to seek public and private health services.MethodBetween September and December 2020, a health questionnaire was administered via telephone to n = 250 migrants from Venezuela. Descriptive statistics summarized the constructs of Andersen’s Behavioral Model. The model comprised of predisposing factors including migrants’ social characteristics; enabling factors namely monthly earnings, education level and most trusted source of information on medical needs; need for care factors such as migrants self-reported health status, presence of non-communicable health conditions and having visited a doctor in the past 12 months; and the outcome variables which were migrants’ decisions to seek public and private health services. Pearson χ2 tests, odds ratios and multivariable logistic regression with backward elimination examined the factors influencing a migrant’s decision to seek health services.ResultsOverall, 66.8% of migrants reported they would seek public health services, while 22.4% indicated they would seek private health services. Predisposing factors namely length of time residing in Trinidad and Tobago (p = 0.031) and living with family/friends (p = 0.049); the enabling factor of receiving information from publicly available sources (p = 0.037); and the need for care factor of visiting a doctor for a physical health problem (p = 0.010) were significant correlates of their decision to seek care in the public sector. Predisposing factors namely living with family/friends (p = 0.020) and the enabling factor of having difficulty accessing healthcare services (p = 0.045) were significant correlates of their decision to seek care from private providers.DiscussionOur findings demonstrated the positive association between social networks and a migrant’s decision to use public and private health services, thus underscoring the importance of family and friends in facilitating health service use, promoting proper health practices and preventing diseases. Overall, the use of Andersen’s Behavioral Model aided in identifying the factors associated with the use of health services by Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago. However, further studies are needed to better understand their need for ongoing care, to inform policy, and to plan targeted health interventions for addressing the gaps in health service access, barriers and use.

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Utilization of Health Care Services among Migrant Workers in Malaysia

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

“My young life, finished already?”: a qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage male migrant workers in Singapore

“My young life, finished already?”: a qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage male migrant workers in Singapore

“My young life, finished already?”: A qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage migrant workers in Singapore

Examining healthcare needs and decisions to seek health services among Venezuelan migrants living in Trinidad and Tobago using Andersen’s Behavioral Model

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