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Toyin-Thomas P, Ikhurionan P, Omoyibo EE, Iwegim C, Ukueku AO, Okpere J, Nnawuihe UC, Atat J, Otakhoigbogie U, Orikpete EV, Erhiawarie F, Gbejewoh EO, Odogu U, Akhirevbulu ICG, Kwarshak YK, Wariri O. Drivers of health workers' migration, intention to migrate and non-migration from low/middle-income countries, 1970-2022: a systematic review. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2023-012338. [PMID: 37156560 PMCID: PMC10174016 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The migration of healthcare workers (HWs) from low/middle-income countries (LMICs) is a pressing global health issue with implications for population-level health outcomes. We aimed to synthesise the drivers of HWs' out-migration, intention to migrate and non-migration from LMICs. METHODS We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Global Health and Web of Science, as well as the reference lists of retrieved articles. We included studies (quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods) on HWs' migration or intention to migrate, published in either English or French between 1 January 1970 and 31 August 2022. The retrieved titles were deduplicated in EndNote before being exported to Rayyan for independent screening by three reviewers. RESULTS We screened 21 593 unique records and included 107 studies. Of the included studies, 82 were single-country studies focusing on 26 countries, while the remaining 25 included data from multiple LMICs. Most of the articles focused on either doctors 64.5% (69 of 107) and/or nurses 54.2% (58 of 107). The UK (44.9% (48 of 107)) and the USA (42% (45 of 107)) were the top destination countries. The LMICs with the highest number of studies were South Africa (15.9% (17 of 107)), India (12.1% (13 of 107)) and the Philippines (6.5% (7 of 107)). The major drivers of migration were macro-level and meso-level factors. Remuneration (83.2%) and security problems (58.9%) were the key macro-level factors driving HWs' migration/intention to migrate. In comparison, career prospects (81.3%), good working environment (63.6%) and job satisfaction (57.9%) were the major meso-level drivers. These key drivers have remained relatively constant over the last five decades and did not differ among HWs who have migrated and those with intention to migrate or across geographical regions. CONCLUSION Growing evidence suggests that the key drivers of HWs' migration or intention to migrate are similar across geographical regions in LMICs. Opportunities exist to build collaborations to develop and implement strategies to halt this pressing global health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patience Toyin-Thomas
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Paul Ikhurionan
- Department of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Efe E Omoyibo
- Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
| | - Chinelo Iwegim
- Fraser Health Authority, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Avwebo O Ukueku
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Jermaine Okpere
- Department of Clinical Research, Alpha Research Clinic, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ukachi C Nnawuihe
- Department of Clinical Services, Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for Africa, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Josephine Atat
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Uwaila Otakhoigbogie
- Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | | | - Franca Erhiawarie
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Uyoyo Odogu
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Oghenebrume Wariri
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Thomas D, Miller R, Nolan F. Ethical aspects of professional migration. Nurs Ethics 2023; 30:159-161. [PMID: 36914587 DOI: 10.1177/09697330231161896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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Okyere E, Ward P, Marfoh K, Mwanri L. What do Health Workers say About Rural Practice? Glob Qual Nurs Res 2021; 8:23333936211054812. [PMID: 34869792 PMCID: PMC8637704 DOI: 10.1177/23333936211054812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adequately staffed rural health services improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes,
yet this is lacking in rural Ghana. We used a descriptive qualitative design to understand
the contextual issues that affect rural practice, in the Upper East Region, Ghana.
Sixty-eight in-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare workers and analysed
thematically. Four themes were identified: types of postings to rural settings, healthcare
workers’ perceptions of their rural postings, perceived enablers and motivators for rural
practice, and perceived challenges and barriers to rural practice. While adequate
supervision and family proximity are needed to improve the feelings of loneliness,
isolation and neglect in rural areas, challenges and barriers such as inadequate security,
unstable electricity supply, language barrier, lack of equipment and transport/ambulance
have been identified to have negative influence on healthcare workers. The findings
highlight the need for healthcare managers to improve fairness and transparency in the
posting and reshuffling processes of healthcare workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Okyere
- College of Medicine, Nursing and Health
Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Islands
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
- Eunice Okyere, Department of Public Health, College
of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Princess Road,
Tamavua, Suva, Fiji Islands.
| | - Paul Ward
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Kissinger Marfoh
- Department of Public Health, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lillian Mwanri
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
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