Common mental disorders and its associated factors and mental health care services for Ethiopian labour migrants returned from Middle East countries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Factors associated with depressive symptoms among returnee migrants and non-migrants working adults in Madi municipality in Nepal: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Mental health is a growing concern worldwide. It is not well understood whether international labour migrants from Nepal who return to Nepal are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of and examine the associated factors for depressive symptoms among returnee migrants and non-migrant working male adults in Nepal.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of a probability-based sample of 725 participants was conducted in February 2020. The sample was comprised of two groups based on migration status: returning migrants and non-migrants. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) questionnaire was used to assess depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was applied to investigate factors associated with symptoms of depression.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.1%. However, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was lower (7%) among returnee migrants compared to non-migrants (13.7%). Men in the lower income group had a higher chance of having depressive (AOR = 5.88, 95% CI: 2.17-15.96) than those in the higher income group. Similarly, Buddhists and Christians were more likely to be depressed (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.03-4.68) than Hindus. Participants with more than two children had a higher chance of having of depressive symptoms (AOR = 4.80, 95% CI: 1.15-20.05) compared with those without children. Unmarried men were more likely to be depressed (AOR = 4.07, 95%, CI:1.11-14.92) than those who were married.

CONCLUSION

The working Nepali adult male population in Nepal, including returning migrants, is at risk of depressive symptoms, but this association was lower in those in the higher income group, returnee migrants, those who were married, Hindus and those with no children. Our results highlight the need to monitor and develop national policies to ensure the mental health of the Nepali male adult population, including returnee migrants.

Geographical variation and determinants of women unemployment status in Ethiopia; A multilevel and spatial analysis from 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data

Background

Unemployment is a major problem in both developed and developing countries. In Ethiopia, women unemployment is particularly high, and this makes it a grave socio-economic concern. The aim of this study is to assess the spatial distribution and identify the determinant factors of women unemployment in Ethiopia.

Methods

The data used for the study is the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys of 2016. A total of 15683 women are involved in the study. Global Moran’s I statistic and Poisson-based purely spatial scan statistics are employed to explore spatial patterns and detect spatial clusters of women unemployment, respectively. To identify factors associated with women unemployment, multilevel logistic regression model is used.

Results

A spatial analysis showed that there was a major spatial difference in women unemployment in Ethiopia with Global Moran’s index value of 0.3 (p<0.001). The spatial distribution of women’s unemployment varied significantly across the country. The major areas of unemployment were Afar and Somalia; southwest Tigray; North and west Oromia, and Eastern and southern parts of Amhara. Women with primary level of education(AOR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.80, 0.98), secondary and above level of education (AOR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.62, 0.82), women with rich wealth index (AOR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.90), pregnant women (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.5), women with a male household head(AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.50), and urban women(AOR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.70) statistically associated with women unemployment.

Conclusion

The unemployment rate of women in Ethiopia showed variation across different clusters. Improving entrepreneurship and women’s education, sharing business experiences, supporting entrepreneurs are potential tools for reducing the unemployment women. Moreover, creating community-based programs that prioritize participation of poor households and rural women as well as improving their access to mass media and the labor market is crucial.

Prevalence of common mental health issues among migrant workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous literature has shown that migrant workers manifested higher common mental issues (especially depressive symptom) compared to local workers due to stressors such as financial constraint and lack of access to healthcare. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the current body of evidence for the prevalence of depression and anxiety among migrant workers as well as exploring the risk factors and the availability of social support for migrant workers. Seven electronic databases, grey literature and Google Scholar were searched for studies from 2015 to 2021 related to mental health, social support and migrant workers. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale and the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI). Study heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistics. Random effects meta-analysis results were presented given heterogeneity among studies. The search returned 27 articles and only seven studies were included in meta-analysis, involving 44 365 migrant workers in 17 different countries. The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety among migrant workers was 38.99% (95% CI = 0.27, 0.51) and 27.31% (95% CI = 0.06, 0.58), respectively. Factors such as age, biological (health issue, family history of psychiatric disorder), individual (poor coping skills), occupational (workplace psychosocial stressors, poor working condition, salary and benefits issue, abuse), environmental (limited access towards healthcare, duration of residence, living condition) and social factor (limited social support) were associated with a mental health outcome in migrant workers. The availability of social support for migrant workers was mainly concentrated in emotional type of support. A high prevalence of depression and anxiety was found among migrant workers across the globe. This finding warrants a collective effort by different parties in providing assistance for migrant workers to promote their mental well-being.

"I had tears in my eyes but I just left without looking back". A qualitative study of migration-related stressors amongst Nepali male labour migrants

Labour migration has become a crucial livelihood strategy in settings where employment options are limited. Such opportunities come with potential benefits but also introduce stressors. This study explores migration-related stressors amongst returnee male Nepali international labour migrants. We conducted a qualitative study in Kathmandu amongst 42 returnee male international labour migrants. We explored migration decisions, processes, experiences in destination and on return. The participants worked in low- and semi-skilled jobs in Malaysia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Men reported stressors representing five broad areas: workplace/employer, family, recruitment, environment and legal. Most belonged to the workplace/employer category such as exploitative practices of document confiscation, contract discrepancies and poor working conditions. Family stressors were often due to disagreements about whether to migrate, and once in destination, being absent during illness and death in the family. Recruitment stressors were linked to the migration process and costs. Environmental stressors included over-crowdedness and poor hygiene, and poor security at the accommodation and in the wider town. Legal stressors were related to the lack of documentation, and negative encounters with the local police. Multiple stressors were often experienced simultaneously or in succession. Male labour migrants from Nepal who had worked in various countries and job-sectors reported multiple types of stress. The majority of stressors belong to the workplace category, where migrants may have limited power to challenge problems with their employers. The cumulative effect of such experiences may negatively impact on migrants' wellbeing. Future research should explore migrants' ability to cope with the many stressors encountered.

Coping with migration-related stressors - a qualitative study of Nepali male labour migrants

Background

International labour migration has become a crucial livelihood strategy, especially in countries where decently paid employment opportunities are limited. Such opportunities come with many potential benefits but also many stressors that challenge migrants’ coping skills, especially when they are in a foreign environment away from their normal support network. This paper explores how labour migrants coped with migration-related stressors using a sample of male Nepali migrants.

Methods

Qualitative life histories were conducted in Kathmandu among returnee male migrants. Coping responses were categorised based Skinner and Zimmer-Gembeck’s coping typologies. The interview scripts were transcribed in Nepali and translated into English for analysis. Each interview script was open coded and then categorised according to the 12 core coping families. Data were analysed thematically to explore relationships across and within coping and stressors.

Results

Forty-two men were interviewed who mainly worked in low- and semi-skilled jobs in Malaysia, and the Gulf States. The coping strategies most commonly used belonged to the families of problem-solving, support-seeking, negotiation and helplessness. Men used these either individually or collectively with other migrants. Those who sought assistance from authorities or civil society organisations did not always receive the help needed and there were mixed messages as to when and what types of assistance were available. Some stressors involved multiple coping strategies simultaneously, others described changing strategies following unsuccessful earlier attempts. The coping families of helplessness and social isolation reflected migrants’ limited power in challenging certain stressors. The choice of coping strategies was also moderated by factors such as outstanding loans, language difficulties, or not wanting to cause their family distress. Some coping strategies used led to  new stressors.

Conclusions

Migrants need greater clarifications on their rights with respect to contract discrepancies, the types of support available, how and from whom to access them once in destination. Improvements to the support mechanisms migrants can access as well as strengthening migrant-led initiatives in destination countries to support labour migrants' in managing stressors are needed. These may contribute to reducing the experiences and impact of such stressors, which may ultimately lead to more successful migration outcomes. As labour migration from Nepal is likely to continue, government and CSOs need to ensure migrants have the support they need to cope with the challenges they may encountered along the way.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11192-y.

The Relationship Between Mental Health and Psychosocial Stress of Reservoir Migrants in the Middle Route of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP): The Mediating Role of Social Support

BACKGROUND

South-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) migrants were vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to post-migration stresses and lack of social support. However, the evidence on the mental health, psychosocial stress and social support of SNWDP migrants and their interrelationships are limited and inconclusive. We aimed to explore the mechanism of influence of social support on the relationship between mental health and social psychosocial stress of SNWDP migrants.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the data of 983 SNWDP migrants. The mental health status, psychosocial stress and social support of the participants were evaluated by Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Psychosocial Stress Survey for Groups (PSSG) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Multiple stepwise regression model was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Among the 983 individuals, the average SCL-90-R score was 1.47, the PSSG score was 30.50, and the SSRS score was 40.30. The SCL-90-R was positively correlated with PSSG (r=0.483, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with SSRS (r=-0.257, P<0.001), PSSG was negatively correlated with SSRS (r=-0.516, P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that PSSG and SSRS had significant effects on SCL-90-R prediction and that SSRS played a partial intermediary role in SCL-90-R and PSSG (46.87%).

CONCLUSION

The SNWDP migrants performed a strong correlation between social support, mental health and psychosocial stress. Social support plays a part role in mediating mental health and psychosocial stress.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Prevalence and Determinants of Mental Distress Among Ethiopian Returnees

BACKGROUND

Returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes can be a difficult and traumatic experience, particularly after a long period of displacement. Furthermore, traumatic experiences encountered during displacement during the flight process may be replayed in the minds of IDP returnees when they return to their original locations, raising the risk of re-traumatization. This could have a detrimental impact on the mental health of returning IDPs. Despite this, the mental health of returnee IDPs in Ethiopia has received less consideration. As a result, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of mental distress among Ethiopian returnees.

METHOD AND PARTICIPANTS

A community-based cross-sectional study with 623 participants was conducted from January 1 to 30, 2021, using a systematic sampling technique. The Kessler psychological distress scale was used to assess mental distress (K-10). Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression is used to investigate the relationship between variables. Statistical significance was described as a P-value of less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

The total number of people interviewed was 623, with a 100% response rate. With a 95% confidence interval of 47 to 51.9, the prevalence of psychological distress was 49.4%. Unemployment (AOR=2.1, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.40), inadequate social support (AOR=1.92, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.56), having little knowledge of post-returnee life (AOR=2.17, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.37), and the number of traumatic events (AOR=1.92, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.56) were all found to be significant in the multivariate logistic regression.

CONCLUSION

Returnee IDPs have a high prevalence of psychological distress, according to this report. It is suggested that knowledge of how to adapt to a new life after returning to the original land be given, as well as consistent psychosocial help.