Sexual and reproductive health and rights of migrants: strengthening regional research capacity

Brizuela, Vanessa; Kapilashrami, Anuj; Bonet, Mercedes; Khosla, Rajat; Kobeissi, Loulou; Say, Lale; Thorson, Anna

doi:10.2471/blt.20.270447

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Although the marginalization of migrant workers and associated health impacts are well recognised within the literature [ 22 , 38 – 40 ], most of the published research focused on the intersection of temporary migration and health has been conducted in Europe [ 41 , 42 ], Australia [ 43 , 44 ] and Canada [ 45 – 49 ]. This systematic review adds to that body of work by analyzing how migrant workers in the East and Southeast Asian regions conceptualize their health and strategies for coping with the impacts of temporary migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of health and coping strategies among temporary migrant workers in East and Southeast Asia: a systematic review

Turnbull

Ching

2023

Int J Equity Health

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Background The rate of international migration for the primary purpose of employment has increased exponentially in recent decades. A significant proportion of this global movement takes place across East and Southeast Asia as workers move on a temporary basis from lower-middle-income home countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to high-income host destinations including Hong Kong and Singapore. Relatively little is known about the unique and long-term health needs of this heterogeneous group of people. This systematic review presents an analysis of recent research into the experiences and perceptions of health of temporary migrant workers in the East and Southeast Asian regions. Methods Five electronic databases CINAHL Complete (via EbscoHost), EMBASE (including Medline), PsycINFO (via ProQuest), PubMed and Web of Science, were systematically searched for qualitative or mixed methods, peer-reviewed literature published in print or online between January 2010 and December 2020. Quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research published by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Findings from the included articles were extracted and synthesised using qualitative thematic analysis. Results Eight articles were included in the review. Findings from this review indicate that multiple dimensions of workers’ health is impacted by the processes of temporary migration. In addition, the research reviewed indicated that migrant workers used various strategies and mechanisms to attempt to address their health-related issues and to take better care of themselves. Such agentic practices could help them manage and maintain their health and wellbeing across physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions within the structural constraints of their employment. Conclusions Limited published research has focused on the health perceptions and needs of temporary migrant workers in East and Southeast Asia. The studies included in this review focused on female migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. These studies provide valuable insights but do not reflect the heterogeneity of migrants moving within these regions. The findings of this systematic review highlight that temporary migrant workers experience high and sustained levels of stress and are exposed to certain health risks which may compromise long-term health outcomes. These workers demonstrate knowledge and skills in managing their own health. This suggests that strength-based approaches to health promotion interventions may be effective in optimising their health over time. These findings are relevant to policy makers and non-government organisations supporting migrant workers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of health and coping strategies among temporary migrant workers in East and Southeast Asia: a systematic review

Turnbull

Ching

2023

Int J Equity Health

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“…Considerations need to be given to the degree in which meteorological data are meaningfully integrated into research exploring climate migration and SRH (1). Furthermore, there is an opportunity for this research to engage communities through locally led programming and for interventions to involve the affected populations through community representatives and participatory activities (52)(53)(54)(55).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This scoping review highlights the need for an increase in the quantity and quality of empirical evidence on the effect of climate migration on SRH (the climate-migration-SRH nexus), as well as better characterisation and definitions between climate change and migration in the academic and operational literature, in order to design and implement climate-resilient, migrant-inclusive and gender-responsive health systems that can serve and meet the needs of these vulnerable populations. This research must be context-specific to reflect priorities and situational differences across localities and regions ( 53 ). Considerations need to be given to the degree in which meteorological data are meaningfully integrated into research exploring climate migration and SRH ( 1 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Scoping Review to Assess Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes, Challenges and Recommendations in the Context of Climate Migration

Daalen

Dada

Issa

et al. 2021

Front. Glob. Womens Health

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Background: As growing numbers of people may be forced to migrate due to climate change and variability, it is important to consider the disparate impacts on health for vulnerable populations, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This scoping review aims to explore the relationship between climate migration and SRH.Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Global Health and Google for peer-reviewed and gray literature published before 2nd July 2021 in English that reported on SRH in the context of climate migration. Data were extracted using a piloted extraction tool and findings are reported in a narrative synthesis.Results: We screened 1,607 documents. Ten full-text publications were included for analysis: five peer-reviewed articles and five gray literature documents. Reported SRH outcomes focused on maternal health, access to family planning and antiretroviral therapy, sexual and gender-based violence, transactional sex, and early/forced marriage. Recommendations to improve SRH in the context of climate migration called for gender-transformative health systems, education and behavior change programmes, and the involvement of local women in policy planning and programme implementation.Discussion: While the disparate impacts of climate change and migration are well-established, primary data on the scope of impact due to climate migration is limited. The SRH outcomes reported in the literature focus on a relatively narrow range of SRH domains, emphasizing women and girls, over men. Achieving holistic and equitable SRH in the context of climate migration requires engaging all genders across the range of SRH outcomes and migration contexts. This review highlights the need for further empirical evidence on the effect of climate migration on SRH, with research that is context-specific and engages communities in order to reflect the heterogeneity of outcomes and impact in the climate-migration-SRH nexus.

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“…Migration is an important component of the social, political, and economic reality of our globalized world. Although migrants are particularly vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes such as sexual violence, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy complications, their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) have often not been fully addressed [ 1 , 2 ]. In Sweden, SRHR have been prioritized in the national and international policies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Sweden, SRHR have been prioritized in the national and international policies. Despite the official commitment to SRHR, previous literature has pointed out that migrants 1 in Sweden are disadvantaged in terms of SRHR outcomes and access to SRH services. For instance, studies have shown that foreignborn women are at higher risk of exposure to interpersonal violence [3], and have an increased risk of mortality due to interpersonal violence compared to Swedish-born women [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migrants in Swedish sexual and reproductive health and rights related policies: a critical discourse analysis

Amroussia

Holmström²,

Ouis

2022

Int J Equity Health

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Background Previous research has shown that migrants in Sweden are disadvantaged in terms of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). SRHR policies might play a crucial role in shaping migrants’ SRHR outcomes. The purpose of the study was to critically examine: a) how migrants were represented in the discourses embedded within Swedish SRHR-related policies, and b) how migrants’ SRHR-related issues were framed and addressed within these discourses. Methods Critical discourse analysis (CDA) was used to analyze a total of 54 policy documents. Following Jäger’s approach to CDA, discourse strands and entanglements between different discourse strands were examined. Results Our findings consisted of three discourse strands: 1) “Emphasizing vulnerability”, 2) “Constructing otherness”, and 3) “Prioritizing the structural level or the individual level?”. Migrants’ representation in Swedish SRHR-related policies is often associated with the concept of vulnerability, a concept that can hold negative connotations such as reinforcing social control, stigma, and disempowerment. Alongside the discourse of vulnerability, the discourse of otherness appears when framing migrants’ SRHR in relation to what is defined as honor-related violence and oppression. Furthermore, migrant SRHR issues are occasionally conceptualized as structural issues, as suggested by the human rights-based approach embraced by Swedish SRHR-related policies. Relevant structural factors, namely migration laws and regulations, are omitted when addressing, for example, human trafficking and HIV/AIDS. Conclusions We conclude that the dominant discourses favor depictions of migrants as vulnerable and as the Other. Moreover, despite the prevailing human rights-based discourse, structural factors are not always considered when framing and addressing migrants’ SRHR issues. This paper calls for a critical analysis of the concept of vulnerability in relation to migrants’ SRHR. It also highlights the importance of avoiding othering and paying attention to the structural factors when addressing migrants’ SRHR.

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Sexual and reproductive health and rights of migrants: strengthening regional research capacity

Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

Perceptions of health and coping strategies among temporary migrant workers in East and Southeast Asia: a systematic review

Perceptions of health and coping strategies among temporary migrant workers in East and Southeast Asia: a systematic review

A Scoping Review to Assess Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes, Challenges and Recommendations in the Context of Climate Migration

Migrants in Swedish sexual and reproductive health and rights related policies: a critical discourse analysis

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