Transnational health protection strategies and other health-seeking behavior among undocumented and indigenous dairy workers in a rural new immigrant destination

The incidence and severe consequences of occupational injuries among informal workers in a developing country

This article uses novel microdata to estimate the prevalence of occupational injuries among informal workers in a developing country with a segmented labour market like Argentina, and analyses their socio-economic consequences, exploring the heterogeneity according to the formality status of the worker. The results indicate that the prevalence of injuries is roughly similar between informal and formal workers. However, the socio-economic consequences are substantially more severe for informal workers and their families. These consequences include: a reduction in consumption of basic goods and services; and the need for household members - including school-age children and older people - to search for work to compensate for the income drop resulting from the injured worker.

Transnational Healthcare Practices Among Migrants: A Concept Analysis

AIMS

To present a conceptual definition of transnational healthcare in the context of migrant older adults.

DESIGN

This article follows the Walker and Avant concept analysis framework to conduct an in-depth analysis of transnational healthcare.

METHODS

Databases were searched for scholarly articles using keywords associated with transnational healthcare. The DistillerSR software was employed to screen articles for inclusion in the concept analysis. Titles and abstracts of 390 articles were screened with 50 identified for full-text screening. Thirty-seven articles were included to inform the concept analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Social Science Citation Index (Clarivate), PsycInfo and CINAHL databases. Search dates: March-May 2024.

RESULTS

Defining attributes of the concept include cultural comfort and alignment, perceived quality and trust, integration barriers and experiences of discrimination, use of digital platforms and informal networks, challenges navigating host country health systems. Cases, antecedents, consequences, empirical referents and cultural considerations were used to shape a conceptual definition of transnational healthcare.

CONCLUSION

Transnational healthcare is defined as a practice involving those living outside of their country of origin seeking healthcare from that country of origin through physical or other means.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

This conceptual definition highlights the importance of understanding healthcare access, quality and continuity of care across national borders.

IMPACT

This study addresses gaps in available literature regarding transnational healthcare and its impacts on treatment outcomes, healthcare satisfaction and continuity of care in migrant communities.

REPORTING METHOD

This article adheres to the PRISMA (2020) reporting guidelines for systematic reviews.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Transnational Health and Self-care Experiences of Japanese Women who have taken Oral Contraceptives in South Korea, including Over-the-counter Access: Insights from Semi-structured Interviews

In an increasingly globalized world, the accessibility of healthcare and medication has expanded beyond local healthcare systems and national borders. This study aims to investigate the transnational health and self-care experiences of 11 Japanese women who have resided in South Korea for a minimum of six months and have utilized oral contraceptives, including those that were acquired over-the-counter (OTC). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by utilizing the NVivo software. The analysis yielded three significant thematic categories, namely (1) experiences and perceptions of obtaining and utilizing contraceptive pills, including OTC access; (2) individual and social perceptions of pills and their accessibility in Japan, insights from actual users; and (3) enhancing pill accessibility, transnational health and self-care experiences and perspectives. Participants acknowledged that oral contraceptives are a global product and experienced communication challenges with healthcare providers as a result of differing understandings of these medications. Additionally, this study identified transnational strategies, such as purchasing an adequate supply of pills just before departure and seeking pills from local families or acquaintances. This study not only highlights the implications of clinical care for transnational patients but also underscores their critical global perspectives on access to oral contraceptives. Furthermore, it proposes two models for improving accessibility within the Japanese healthcare system, even in prescription-only contexts, by introducing OTC options.

Barriers and facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status: A systematic integrative literature review

AIMS

To identify the barriers and facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status.

DESIGN

We conducted a systematic integrative literature review following the Whittemore and Knafl methodology.

METHODS

Literature search was conducted to identify studies addressing barriers or facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status in the United States between 2012 and 2022. Studies were critiqued for quality, with results analysed thematically using the social-ecological model.

DATA SOURCES

Searches were conducted in PubMed, PAIS, Web of Science, CINAHL and Psych Info in October 2022.

RESULTS

The review incorporated 30 studies (19 qualitative and 11 quantitative). People without documentation status encountered numerous healthcare barriers such as intrapersonal (lack of financial resources and health insurance, fear), interpersonal (language and cultural discrepancies, discrimination), community (bureaucratic requirements, anti-immigrant rhetoric) and policy-related barriers. Conversely, linguistically and culturally competent care, empathetic and representative staff, health navigators, safety-net clinics and supportive federal policies emerged as key facilitators.

CONCLUSION

These findings illuminate the complex healthcare disparities experienced by people without documentation status and underscore facilitators enhancing care accessibility. Future research is needed to explore interventions to increase access to care for this population.

IMPACT

This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the complex barriers and facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status in the United States. The findings support the value of universal healthcare access, a priority of the World Health Organization, and can inform healthcare policies and practices worldwide.

REPORTING METHOD

The review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution was needed.

TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered with the PROSPERO database (registration number: CRD42022366289).

Using the social ecological model to identify challenges facing Latino immigrants

BACKGROUND

New Latino immigrant populations face challenges and barriers when arriving in new immigrant destinations.

OBJECTIVE

To better understand the challenges faced by Latino immigrants in a new immigrant destination by using the Social Ecological Model.

DESIGN

This study solicited the perceptions of key informants and Latino immigrant participants through qualitative data collection methods to understand how to address and decrease barriers to healthcare services and community resources.

SAMPLE

Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with two groups of respondents: 13 key informants and 30 Latino immigrants.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and categorized based on the Social Ecological Model.

RESULTS

Themes identified at the individual and interpersonal levels of the Social Ecological Model include fear of deportation and stress. Themes at the community level include cultural differences, discrimination, and a lack of exposure of the majority community to Latino immigrants. At the system level, researchers identified language barriers, the cost of healthcare, and housing. At the policy level, researchers identified legal status and occupational exploitation as challenges for this community.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the challenges faced by Latino immigrants requires multi-level interventions to address barriers that prevent new immigrants from accessing community resources.

Household living conditions and individual behaviours associated with malaria risk: a community-based survey in the Limpopo River Valley, 2020, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, implementation of multiple malaria control strategies in most countries has largely contributed to advance the global malaria elimination agenda. Nevertheless, in some regions, seasonal epidemics may adversely affect the health of local populations. In South Africa, Plasmodium falciparum malaria is still present, with the Vhembe District experiencing an incidence rate of 3.79 cases/1000 person-years in 2018, particularly in the Limpopo River Valley, bordering Zimbabwe. To elucidate the complexity of the mechanisms involved in local regular malaria outbreaks, a community-based survey was implemented in 2020 that focused on the relationship between housing conditions and malaria risky behaviours.

METHODS

The community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among the population of three study sites in the Vhembe District, which were selected based on malaria incidence rate, social and health characteristics of inhabitants. The household survey used a random sampling strategy, where data were collected through face-to-face questionnaires and field notes; to described the housing conditions (housing questionnaire), and focus on individual behaviours of household members. Statistical analyses were performed combining hierarchical classifications and logistic regressions.

RESULTS

In this study, 398 households were described, covering a population of 1681 inhabitants of all ages, and 439 adults who participated in community-based survey. The analysis of situations at risk of malaria showed that the influence of contextual factors, particularly those defined by the type of habitat, was significant. Housing conditions and poor living environments were factors of malaria exposure and history, regardless of site of investigation, individual preventive behaviours and personal characteristics of inhabitants. Multivariate models showed that, considering all personal characteristics or behaviours of inhabitants, housing conditions such as overcrowding pressures were significantly associated with individual malaria risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed the overwhelming weight of social and contextual factors on risk situations. Considering the Fundamental Causes Theory, malaria control policies based on health behaviour prevention, should reinforce access to care or promoting health education actions. Overarching economic development interventions in targeted geographical areas and populations have to be implemented, so that malaria control and elimination strategies can be efficiently and effectively managed.

"Maybe it's an Indo thing": Transnational health experiences of Indonesian women living in Australia

Migrant health-seeking behaviour is understood to be influenced by transnationalism. This paper explores how transnationalism influences health seeking behaviour among Indonesian women living in Perth, Western Australia. Using a participatory action research approach, we conducted five focus groups with 21 women from Indonesia living in Perth. Transnational practices were common amongst Indonesian women. Transnational health-seeking (seeking Indonesian resources in Australia); transnational social support (between countries); and transnational healthcare (return to Indonesia) were common practices amongst Indonesian women. Transnational social networks were a critical source of health information and support. Findings suggest public health interventions may be improved through utilization of transnational social networks.

Disparities in the nationwide distribution of epilepsy centers

BACKGROUND

Prior studies in the field of epilepsy surgical disparities have examined barriers in undergoing epilepsy surgical resections in disadvantaged populations involving trust in health providers, education level, social support, and fear of treatment. Few studies have analyzed the geographical locations of specialized epilepsy centers and their role in nationwide epilepsy surgical access and disparities.

OBJECTIVE

To better visualize the locations of epilepsy level IV centers in the United States with respect to epilepsy prevalence and socioeconomic disadvantage.

METHODS

We created heat maps of the United States to visualize geographical locations of level IV epilepsy centers with respect to the 2015 state-wide epilepsy prevalence and 2017 county-wide Area Deprivation Index (ADI) scores, a composite measure of socioeconomic disadvantage. Univariate logistic regression was used to test for associations between the presence or absence of epilepsy centers and socioeconomic disadvantage.

RESULTS

We found eight states within the United States without any level IV epilepsy centers. In states with level IV centers, centers were clustered in populated and metropolitan regions. Disadvantaged counties (with increased ADI scores) were less likely to have level IV centers compared to counties that were less disadvantaged (lower ADI scores) (p < 0.00001).

CONCLUSION

Further work is required to remedy the decreased access to specialized epilepsy care due to geographical disparities, and to better understand its contribution to overall disparities affecting epilepsy surgery referrals.