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Book part
Publication date: 28 March 2022

Roberta Villalón and Sarah Kraft

The aim of this chapter is to explore the gender dynamics of the juncture of migration and health in the case of Ecuadorean migrations to Spain, the United States, and back.

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this chapter is to explore the gender dynamics of the juncture of migration and health in the case of Ecuadorean migrations to Spain, the United States, and back.

Methodology/Approach

By building on a feminist intersectional take on the social determination of health as defined by Latin American critical epidemiology, the project was designed within an activist research framework, and data were collected transnationally from 2015 to 2019 via surveys, individual and group interviews, participant observation in health and migration workshops and trainings for migrant communities, advocates, and health practitioners.

Findings

Our study identified and conceptualized various health processes and psycho-sociocultural coping mechanisms that migrants and relatives traversed and employed and pointed to how they manifested their agency in sustaining, reinforcing, and challenging dominant heteropatriarchal gender regimes.

Research Limitations/Implications

While the findings cannot be generalized to all Ecuadorean migrants given sampling limitations, our research can help migrant communities further understand how their health and well-being may be affected by migration and, in turn, take precautionary and restorative measures.

Originality/Value of Paper

The combination of various critical theories allowed us to uncover how migration as a risk factor affected the health of migrants, nonmigrating relatives and returnees in a nuanced and complex manner that traversed disciplinary silos and challenged both the mainstream biomedical approach, which typically exoticize, demean, and/or marginalize migrant health, and the literature's tendency to code migrants as victims as opposed to recognizing their protagonism.

Details

Health and Health Care Inequities, Infectious Diseases and Social Factors
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-940-9

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 December 2017

Rabi’u Isah Moh’d and Joseph Boniface Ajefu

Studies on the relationship between migration and health status of individuals most often concentrate on international migrants. In contrast, the purpose of this paper is to…

Abstract

Purpose

Studies on the relationship between migration and health status of individuals most often concentrate on international migrants. In contrast, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between health and internal migration using the first 18 waves of the British Household Survey.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the 12-version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), an indicator of mental health, and physical health indicators as the health variables. This study uses different econometrics estimation methods in modelling the relationship in order to address omitted variable bias as well as unobserved heterogeneity. The econometric estimation methods include Pooled OLS, random effects (RE), fixed effects (FE) and then probit RE. The authors explore the relationship by comparing the health status of movers and non-movers and different types of internal migration such as between local authority districts and between regions.

Findings

The results of this research suggest that there is healthy migrant effect on migration within UK on some indicators of physical health like arm/leg, heart and migraine/headache problems, but not on mental health indicator. And the effects are similar for both males and females. It is advised therefore that the department of health should improve the health of those affected by these ailments so that they can have a chance to move perhaps to better their lots.

Originality/value

This study uses different econometrics estimation methods in modelling the relationship in order to address omitted variable bias as well as unobserved heterogeneity. The econometric estimation methods include Pooled OLS, RE, FE and then probit RE.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2014

Francis A. Adzei, Emmanuel K. Sakyi and Jennifer Amonoo-Harrison

The purpose of this paper is to examine the trend of return migration of health professionals to Ghana and how it is impacting the delivery of health services in the country. It…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the trend of return migration of health professionals to Ghana and how it is impacting the delivery of health services in the country. It also highlights the challenges facing returnees to the country.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative exploratory case study approach was employed in the study. Data gathered were analysed using the sequential model of qualitative content analysis.

Findings

It was found that while push factors dominantly influence out-migration, pull factors rather dominated reasons for return migration. Other determinants of return migration include social and financial benefits to the home country, achieving goals for travelling, skills’ improvement and spousal consideration. The paper also highlights some of the challenges returnees usually encounter in the home country.

Social implications

This paper makes reasonable recommendations regarding how return migration of Ghanaian health professionals might be smoother.

Originality/value

The study brings to the fore, the necessity for the government to plan for health professionals, who returned to Ghana to contribute to the health system.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 10 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 July 2021

Marjan Petreski

The purpose of this paper is twofold, namely, to investigate if living and working abroad influences the (subjective) health of return migrants and to understand if there are any…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold, namely, to investigate if living and working abroad influences the (subjective) health of return migrants and to understand if there are any spillovers of return-migrant members onto health conditions of the family members left behind.

Design/methodology/approach

To that end, this paper uses the DoTM (Development on the Move) Migration Survey 2009, as well a propensity score matching to address selectivity on observables and IV (instrumental variables) for the selectivity on unobservables.

Findings

Results suggest that when equalized on observables, return migrants have better health than non-migrants. However, the reverse causality channel (less healthy individuals are more inclined to return) works to attenuate the true effect of return migration on health. Results further suggest a positive spillover effect of return migration on the health of the family members left behind, being mainly driven by the work of remittances sent while abroad, and not by the returned wealth or by the health knowledge transfer.

Originality/value

This paper offers at least two novelty lines to contribute to the current sparse of knowledge. First, it is among the scarce papers, and probably the only quantitative one, to investigate the nexus between return migration and health outcomes. Second, it heavily dwells on the role of selectivity (both on observables and unobservables) in determining the true (causal) effect of return migration on health.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 June 2016

Anil Kumar K, Reshmi R S and Hemalatha N

In India, the number of migrants to urban areas is increasing over time. Unlike in earlier years where male migration was prominent, recent trend shows an increasing trend of…

Abstract

Purpose

In India, the number of migrants to urban areas is increasing over time. Unlike in earlier years where male migration was prominent, recent trend shows an increasing trend of female and family migration. As migration and health status are highly correlated, the nature of relationship deserves greater attention from researchers. Although literature on internal migration in India is abundant, little attention is given to the research on the effect of migration on the health status of children. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper, based on National Family Health Survey 3 data, examines the health status of migrant and non-migrant children in the urban areas of India.

Findings

Distribution according to social and demographic characteristics is disadvantageous for urban children who are born to migrant women. As seen from various child health indicators, urban children’s health in general and the health situation of migrant women’s children in particular leaves much to be desired. Pattern of migration tends to have an impact on child health in urban areas; children of women who migrate from rural areas are in an adverse position. Duration of migration has a negative influence on health status of urban children. Overall, it was found that migration status of mothers has an independent effect on child health outcomes; children of migrant mothers have a lower health status.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills the need to study the health status of migrant and non-migrant children in the urban areas of India.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2016

Fang Chang, Yaojiang Shi, Hongmei Yi and Natalie Johnson

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of adult children migration on the health status of elderly parents. Increased labor migration in developing countries that…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of adult children migration on the health status of elderly parents. Increased labor migration in developing countries that lack adequate social security systems and institutionalized care for the elderly is a phenomenon that is important to understand. When their adult children go away to work, it is not clear what effect there will be on “left-behind” elderly parents.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs nearly nationally representative data from five provinces, 25 counties, 101 villages and 2,000 households, collected from two waves of data in 2007 and 2011. This sample comprises a subset of households which include both elderly individuals (above 60 years old) and their grown (working-aged) children in order to estimate the impact of adult child migration on the health of elderly parents in rural China.

Findings

This study finds that adult child migration has a significant positive impact on the health of elderly family members.

Practical implications

These findings are consistent with the explanation that migration raises family resources, which in turn may contribute to better health outcomes for elderly household members.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to attempt to identify the relationship between household migration and the health of elderly parents within the Chinese context.

Details

China Agricultural Economic Review, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-137X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 December 2010

Jonathan Crush and Wade Pendleton

The paper presents the results and discusses the implications of a national survey of South African health professionals which found extraordinarily high levels of dissatisfaction…

1793

Abstract

The paper presents the results and discusses the implications of a national survey of South African health professionals which found extraordinarily high levels of dissatisfaction with working and living conditions in the country. Emigration potential is very high, and retention strategies have been largely unsuccessful. The survey findings suggest that remedial efforts within South Africa will not slow the brain drain. This has serious negative repercussions for the quality and level of health care available to patients in the country. The only workable retention strategy is for Western countries to stop issuing immigration and work permits to South African health professionals, a policy that would be consistent with their attitude to most other South African workers. However, as long as health professional shortages continue in Western countries and their immigration policy remains divorced from their international development policy, this scenario seems unlikely.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 6 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 December 2009

Sarah Curtis and Anne‐Cecile Hoyez

This review arises from a series of multidisciplinary Franco‐British workshops which were supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Agence…

Abstract

This review arises from a series of multidisciplinary Franco‐British workshops which were supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR). More than 30 participants from a range of institutions and agencies were involved in compiling the material in this review (Appendix I). The workshops offered an opportunity to exchange ideas from research on the relationships between migration, health and well‐being in Britain and France. In the following discussion we compare and contrast experiences in the two countries, with the aim of assessing the importance of international, national and local contexts, in their various cultural, social and political dimensions, for the relationships of interest. Drawing on these ideas, we suggest the definition of a future international research agenda.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 5 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 August 2021

Franklin Oikelome, Joshua Broward and Dai Hongwu

The aim of this paper is to present a conceptual model on foreign-born health care workers from developing countries working in the US. The model covers their motivations for…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a conceptual model on foreign-born health care workers from developing countries working in the US. The model covers their motivations for migration, the consequences in terms of the inequality and exclusion they may experience and the role of institutional responses at micro-, macro- and meso-level of intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on: (1) in-depth review of key literature studies on the foundation theories of international migration including sociology, economics, anthropology, psychology and human resource management, (2) analysis of theoretical approaches to medical migration across disciplines, (3) analysis of the international and national documentary sources of micro-, macro- and meso-level policies on migration and (4) analysis of evidence on best practices, solutions and aspirational changes across different levels of institutions.

Findings

(1) Migration of international medical graduates (IMGs) from developing countries to the US can be explained from a micro-, macro- and meso-level of analysis. (2) IMGs who identify as racial/ethnic minorities may experience unfair discrimination differently than their US-born counterparts. (3) Although political/legislative remedies have had some successes, proactive initiatives will be needed alongside enforcement strategies to achieve equity and inclusion. (4) While diversity management initiatives abound in organizations, those designed for the benefit of IMGs from developing countries are rare. (5) Professional identity groups and some nonprofits may challenge structural inequities, but these have not yet achieved economies of scale.

Research limitations/implications

Although it is well-documented in the US health care literature how ethnic/racial minorities are unfairly disadvantaged in work and career, the studies are rarely disaggregated according to sub-groups (e.g. non-White IMGs and US-born MGs). The implication is that Black IMG immigrants have been overlooked by the predominant narratives of native-born, Black experiences. In placing the realities of native-born Blacks on the entire Black population in America, data have ignored and undermined the diverse histories, identities and experiences of this heterogeneous group.

Practical implications

An awareness of the challenges IMGs from developing countries face have implications for managerial decisions regarding recruitment and selection. Besides their medical qualifications, IMGs from developing countries offer employers additional qualities that are critical to success in health care delivery. Considering organizations traditionally favor White immigrants from Northern and Southern Europe, IMGs from developed countries migrate to the US under relatively easier circumstances. It is important to balance the scale in the decision-making process by including an evaluation of migration antecedents in comprehensive selection criteria.

Social implications

The unfair discrimination faced by IMGs who identify as racial/ethnic minority are multilayered and will affect them in ways that are different compared to their US-born counterparts. In effect, researchers need to make this distinction in research on racial discrimination. Since IMGs are not all uniformly impacted by unfair discrimination, organization-wide audits should be in tune with issues that are of concerns to IMGs who identify as racial/ethnic minorities. Likewise, diversity management strategies should be more inclusive and should not ignore the intersectionality of race/ethnicity, nationality, country of qualification and gender.

Originality/value

Immigrant health care workers from developing countries are integral to the health care industry in the United States. They make up a significant proportion of all workers in the health care industry in the US. Although the literature is replete with studies on immigrant health care workers as a whole, research has rarely focused on immigrant health care workers from developing countries. The paper makes a valuable contribution in drawing attention to this underappreciated group, given their critical role in the ongoing pandemic and the need for the US health industry to retain their services to remain viable in the future.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. 41 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 February 2021

Alfiah Hasanah, Bayu Kharisma and Sutyastie Soemitro Remi

This study aims to explore the impact of adult child labour migration on the health of parents and the possible mechanism that contributes to the health of families left behind.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of adult child labour migration on the health of parents and the possible mechanism that contributes to the health of families left behind.

Design/methodology/approach

Several indicators of parents’ health are analysed and several subgroups – parents of migrant sons, parents of migrant daughters, parents aged 50+ and parents who live in rural areas are investigated. The data from Indonesia Family Life Survey are used and the fixed effects method is used to address potential endogeneity and instrumental variables are applied in the sensitivity analysis.

Findings

The labour out-migration of adult children has a positive and significant association with the health status of the parent left behind. The parents of migrant children are more likely to have a better self-rated health status, fewer episodes of morbidity symptoms, fewer unhealthy days, fewer visits to outpatient care and are less likely to be on medication than the parents of non-migrant children.

Research limitations/implications

The study design in a longitudinal setting, however, there is a relatively many years gap between waves could provide insufficient statistical power for measuring health variations. Future studies should consider to explore possible health outcomes for parents who co-resided with an adult child and the types and severity of various disease conditions.

Practical implications

Highlights challenges in health-care provision for older people in Indonesia and the possible contribution of health disparities in developing countries.

Originality/value

Explores the impact of out-migration of adult children on the health of parents left behind, using very recent data of over a long period of a longitudinal design.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 17 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

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