Migrant Workers and Physical Health: An Umbrella Review

Abstract

Migrants are mainly employed in “3D jobs” which are dirty, dangerous, and difficult, are characterized by monotony and intense rhythms, and are found in sectors with higher risks such as construction, heavy industry, and agriculture. The aim of this study is to construct a systematic review in order to identify the main occupational risks and occupational diseases of this category. Research included articles published from 2013 to 2018 on major online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus), which were obtained using a combination of keywords (migrant workers, expatriates, physical health, diseases, illnesses, travel, travelers, work, and occupational medicine). The online search included 1109 references. We excluded 977 studies because they were unrelated to physical health and another 64 due to duplication. There were 68 articles which were analyzed, including six reviews and 62 original articles. The main risks which emerged are developing infectious diseases, metabolic cardiovascular diseases and manifesting a lower quality of life, in particular due to difficulties in accessing local health services. It will be crucial to implement the role of occupational medicine in order to introduce multilevel interventions designed to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, and to promote healthier working environments.

Characterizing Unsafe Sexual Behavior among Factory Workers in the Context of Rapid Industrialization in Northern Vietnam

“…In other low-middle-income countries like Vietnam, such as India and Thailand, factory workers and male migrant workers, respectively, are among the most vulnerable populations to HIV/AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [7,8]. Migrant workers generally are at greater risk of heterosexual HIV transmission due to their demographic characteristics, such as lack of access to HIV treatment and prevention, unstable family and work situations, and access to sex workers [9].…”

Health and well-being issues of Nepalese migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Malaysia: a systematic review

“… 65 Migrant workers in South Asia generally appear to have a greater prevalence of infectious diseases due to the complex interaction of several factors—this includes higher prevalence of infectious diseases in their native countries together with aforementioned poor access to healthcare and low socioeconomic status. 6 Acknowledgement and consequent introduction of policies to improve these structural drivers of infectious diseases among Nepalese migrants would be a more holistic approach that might both better protect the local population and improve the health and well-being of the vulnerable migrant population. 66 …”

Immigrants as Transformers: The Case for Immigrant Food Enterprises and Community Revitalization

“…These studies largely focus on the impact of dietary acculturation on health outcomes of immigrants (Zhang et al 2019). The health and living conditions of immigrants who work on farms, in processing plants, and in the food service industry have also been subjects of many inquiries that illuminate how labor regulations-or the lack thereof-impact some of the most marginalized, yet crucial, actors in the food system (Moyce and Schenker 2018;Mucci et al 2019). While these studies are important in making visible the cruelty of the food industry, they often present immigrants in the US food system as victims of abuse and discrimination.…”