Volume 13, 2004

Issue N. 1: Migration and Health in Asia

Mika Toyota, Santosh Jatrana and Brenda S.A. Yeoh
"Introduction: Migrants' Vulnerability and Health Risks in Asia," Vol. 13 (1), p. 1-10, 2004

Avanti Iyer, Theresa W. Devasahayam and Brenda S.A. Yeoh
"A Clean Bill of Health: Filipinas as Domestic Workers in Singapore,"  Vol. 13 (1), p. 11-38, 2004

This paper describes foreign domestic workers' (FDWs) vulnerability in Singapore. Due to the lack of regulatory laws mandating employers to pay health care costs and FDW ineligibility for national plans given their transient contract labor status, FDWs depend on employer generosity to provide for this need. Presently, the state’s interest only includes particular aspects of FDW “health.” The argument here is that the discourse of perceiving FDWs as sexual ‘bodies’ and transmitters of other infectious diseases is a metaphor for how the state perceives them - useful to Singapore for economic gains as long as they do not bring on costs.

Elsie Seckyee Ho

"Mental Health of Asian Immigrants in New Zealand: A Review of Key Issues," Vol. 13 (1), p. 39-60, 2004

Although the mental health status of Asian immigrants in New Zealand is not well studied, the limited data that is available suggests that the mental disorder prevalence rates are similar to that of the general population, and that language problems, failure to find employment, separation from family and community, and traumatic experiences prior to migration are key factors associated with increased risk of minor mental disorders such as anxiety or depression. The research has also found that stigma is a major obstacle preventing Asian immigrants from using mainstream mental health services. Cultural differences in assessment and treatment, a lack of English proficiency and inadequate knowledge and awareness of existing services are additional barriers. These issues draw attention to the need for greater responsiveness to the needs of Asian service users and their families in the mental health system.

Santosh Jatrana and Suresh Kumar Sangwan
"Living on Site: Health Experiences of Migrant Female Construction Workers in North India," Vol. 13 (1), p. 61-88, 2004

This study examines the health experiences of migrant female workers in the construction industry in North India by addressing the following four broad categories of issues: what do these women think about their health in general? Where do these women go for treatment when they are ill? What are their perceptions about the utilization of trained medical personnel or hospitals for childbirth? Does migration improve women’s health and their utilization of health facilities and if yes, does duration of stay in an urban area matter? Based on focus group discussions (FGDs), the results suggest that while the health status of these women have improved after migration, they have not started using modern health facilities either for childbirth or general illnesses. The study recommends that in order to understand the impact of migration on migrant women working in the informal sector, we need to address the broader social environment within which their health behavior occurs. We also need to look at the geographical dimension of exposure to urban lifestyles and ideas besides exposure over time (i.e., whether longer or shorter duration of stay in urban areas) and age (i.e., whether they migrated at younger ages or older ages).

Anurag Mishra
"Risk of Sexually-Transmitted Infections Among Migrant Men: Findings from a Survey in Delhi," Vol. 13 (1), p. 89-106, 2004

Male outmigration has been a traditional feature of rural to urban migration in India. Many of these out-migrants are married and have left their families behind. This raises the question of whether men actually abstain or seek other sexual partners. To address this question, this paper attempts to study migrants’ sexual behavior and sexual health as well as their attitudes towards extramarital sex and preventive practices during sex outside marriage. Findings from the survey of 500 married male migrants suggest that migrants staying away from their families are 3.6 times more likely to indulge in extramarital sex than migrants staying with their families. The need for more information campaigns and providing recreational facilities for migrants living away from their families is suggested by the study.

Pimonpan Isarabhakdi
"Meeting at the Crossroads: Myanmar Migrants and Their Use of Thai Health Care Services," Vol. 13 (1), p. 107-126, 2004

This study assesses the use of health services among cross-border migrants from Myanmar who are now living in Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. The migrants comprise three main ethnic groups, namely the Burmese, Karen and Mon, most of whom have no formal education and are agricultural workers. Results indicate that although the migrants can access government health facilities, they are still more likely to buy drugs or use herbal medicines for treating themselves when they have minor illnesses, while the Thais are more likely to seek medical care from government facilities. The main difficulties for migrants in accessing health services are their legal status, financial constraints, and an inability to speak Thai. Moreover, health beliefs also determine the health-seeking behaviors of migrants, particularly among the Karen who believe in spirits and herbal medicine, while very few of the Burmese and the Mon do so. This leads to the conclusion that ethnicity is an important determinant of the utilization of health services by migrants from Myanmar in Kanchanaburi.


RESEARCH NOTE

Seema Gaur and Prem C. Saxena

"Indian Migrant Workers in Lebanon and Their Access to Health Care," Vol. 13 (1), p. 127-136, 2004
 

This paper examines Indian migrant workers’ access to health care in Lebanon. The findings are based on quantitative and qualitative data collected in 1998 from a sample of 402 semi-skilled and unskilled migrant workers from India. The study tries to shed light on the plight of migrant workers, especially that of unauthorized ones, whose situation is compounded by meager income and the absence of a health insurance policy. High medical costs in Lebanon restrict migrants’ access to health care, leaving many migrants to suffer from various diseases. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for sending and receiving countries, the implementation of which would contribute to the welfare and betterment of the health conditions of migrant workers.