Factors affecting access to healthcare for young people in the informal sector in developing countries: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundYoung people are increasingly seeking employment in the informal sector due to increasing global unemployment. However, the precarious nature of work in the informal sectors, coupled with the high risk of occupational hazards, calls for a greater need for effective healthcare for informal sector workers, particularly young people. In addressing the health vulnerabilities of informal workers, systematic data on the determinants of health is a persistent challenge. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and summarise the existing factors that affect access to healthcare among young people from the informal sector.MethodsWe searched six data databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Crossref, and Google Scholar), which was followed by hand searching. Then we screened the identified literature using review-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria, extracted data from the included studies and assessed study quality. Then we presented the results in narrative form, though meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity in the study design.ResultsAfter the screening, we retrieved 14 studies. The majority were cross-sectional surveys and were conducted in Asia (n = 9); four were conducted in Africa, and one in South America. Samples ranged in size from 120 to 2,726. The synthesised results demonstrate that problems of affordability, availability, accessibility, and acceptability of healthcare were barriers to young informal workers seeking healthcare. We found social networks and health insurance as facilitators of access for this group of people.ConclusionTo date, this is the most comprehensive review of the evidence on access to healthcare for young people in the informal sector. Our study finding highlights the key gaps in knowledge where future research could further illuminate the mechanisms through which social networks and the determinants of access to healthcare could influence the health and well-being of young people and thus inform policy development.

A Two-Pronged Approach to Understanding Reciprocity and Mental Health Relationship in Developing Countries: Evidence from Young Informal Construction Workers in Nigeria.

“…By utilizing indirect reciprocity, these workers can access support and resources that may not be readily available through direct person-toperson relationships. This form of reciprocity has been found to be particularly bene cial in situations where access to direct forms of assistance is limited (Oladosu et al, 2023).…”

“…Following previous studies (Oladosu et al, 2023;Sychareun et al, 2016;Webber et al, 2012) that have found that young informal workers rely heavily on their social networks for health-related needs, we expect that the level of reciprocity among young informal construction workers in Nigeria would be high. Aim 3.…”

“…Perming the above with estimations that 77% of young people work in the informal sector (Oladosu et al, 2023;Sychareun et al, 2016), it is not out of place to draw conclusions that young informal workers are the most preyed by mental health problems (Atilola, 2012). This then begs the question, how do young informal workers improve their mental health?…”

“…The toll on their bodies leads to fatigue, physical exhaustion, and heightened susceptibility to injuries, which, in turn, can burden their mental resilience. Despite all these, informal construction workers in Nigeria are deprived of critical social protection measures such as healthcare, retirement bene ts, and unemployment bene ts (Oladosu et al, 2023). This lack of support exacerbates their nancial insecurity, making it even more challenging to cope with emergencies or unexpected events.…”

A two-pronged approach to understanding reciprocity and mental health relationship in developing countries: evidence from young informal construction workers in Nigeria

“…Perming the above with estimations that 77% of young people work in the informal sector [ 36 , 47 ], it is not out of place to draw conclusions that young informal workers are the most preyed by mental health problems [ 4 ]. This then begs the question, how do young informal workers improve their mental health?…”