Search Results (30)

The literature details the healthcare needs of migrant people living with chronic illnesses and the consequent economic, social, and healthcare needs of their caregivers. Similarly, some studies have underscored the social and healthcare needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals, including diverse sexual and gender identities under the “+” symbol) adults living with chronic illnesses and their caregivers. This narrative review presents the context of migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ unpaid caregivers and how their intersecting identities influence their caregiving roles for family members with chronic illnesses. In this article, caregivers are defined as family members or chosen families who provide unpaid support that may last for three months or longer for people living with chronic illnesses. Most studies and policies overlook 2SLGBTQIA+ migrants who are also unpaid caregivers of individuals living with chronic illnesses, leaving them unsupported through discrimination at the intersection of racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, and ableism, forcing them to remain vulnerable to increased emotional and physical strain. There is a presence of pervasive systemic barriers, including a lack of training and education among social and healthcare providers, about the needs of migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ unpaid caregivers. Additional challenges stem from inadequate policies and insufficient targeted resources, particularly for caregivers from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds. The findings of this study highlight the necessity for a call to action to address these gaps and improve support systems for these highly marginalized communities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood anemia remains a serious public health issue, negatively affecting cognitive and psychomotor development, with repercussions on school performance and adult productivity. This study aimed to characterize the profile of children aged 6 months to 5 years diagnosed with or at risk of anemia who attended a pediatric hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September 2023 to September 2024. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and cross-tabulations, summarized participant characteristics and key variables. Results: We observed that 33.3% (74/222) of the children were either anemic or at risk of anemia. Among these, 93.2% (69/74) were confirmed anemic or at risk based on hemoglobin levels. Five children (6.8%) had normal hemoglobin but abnormal red-cell indices, with microcytic (60.0%; 3/5) or normocytic (40.0%; 2/5) patterns. Anemia rates were higher in males (55.1%), children aged 24–59 months, those residing in the Metropolitan Lisbon Area (82.6%), children whose caregivers had only basic or secondary education (58.0%), and those whose mothers were born in foreign countries (48.4%). Microcytic red-cell indices were observed in 63.1% of cases. Serum iron results indicated that 32.0% were pre-anemic and 40.0% anemic. Ferritin levels showed iron-deficiency anemia in 22.2% of tested cases. In addition, 33.3% carried the sickle cell trait, and 35.0% had elevated C-reactive protein, suggesting anemia of inflammation. Conclusions: Anemia is a moderate public health issue, mainly affecting children with less-educated caregivers and migrant mothers. Targeted public health actions, including systematic screening, caregiver education, and multiculturally sensitive interventions, are crucial to address anemia. Full article

With the growing trend of population mobility and the aging process in China, a significant number of accompanying elderly migrants have moved to major cities. However, in community public spaces, the behavioral differences between caregiver-oriented elderly migrants (CO-AEMs), family reunion-motivated elderly migrants (FR-AEMs), and local elderly residents hinder social interactions between these groups. This study aims to explore opportunities for cross-group social interaction within the community environment. By utilizing GPS data collection and activity log analysis, along with spatiotemporal behavioral research methods, this study reconstructs the spatiotemporal trajectories of three groups of elderly individuals. The study proposes a social interaction potential (SIP) model based on the “support-constraint” framework. Through qualitative analysis of spatiotemporal behavioral characteristics and quantitative measurement of the degree of spatiotemporal behavioral co-occurrence across four modes, this study reveals the differentiated impact mechanisms of spatial and behavioral factors on social interactions, ultimately assessing SIP in differentiated community spaces and activities. This research highlights differences across spatial, behavioral, and temporal dimensions that hinder social interactions between the groups. Spatial and behavioral differences are primarily attributable to the lifestyle habits and activity preferences of the elderly, while temporal discrepancies reflect varying degrees of family-related constraints across the different groups. Furthermore, informal community public spaces show higher SIP than formal facilities. Additionally, the similarity in behaviors across groups facilitates social interactions. FR-AEMs and local elderly residents show higher SIP in self-care behaviors, while CO-AEMs and local elderly residents demonstrate stronger SIP in behaviors related to their family and grandchildren. Based on the segmented assimilation theory, this study proposes hierarchical community governance and spatial optimization strategies for activities and spaces with different SIP. The aim is to cultivate opportunities for interaction while respecting the characteristics of accompanying elderly migrants and to foster the construction of an inclusive community environment. The findings provide theoretical support and practical pathways for community space planning and social governance in the context of an aging society. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aging migrant population faces unique healthcare challenges due to linguistic, cultural, and systemic barriers. Home healthcare services play a crucial role in supporting aging migrants, yet accessibility and effectiveness remain inconsistent across different healthcare systems. This scoping review examines the experiences of aging migrants in home healthcare settings and explores the impact of these services on their health and well-being. This review aims to synthesize the existing literature on home healthcare experiences among aging migrants, highlighting the facilitators and barriers to effective service delivery and the implications for policy and practice. Method: A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, including CINAHL, Medline, and Scopus, for articles published between 2000 and 2024. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria focusing on home healthcare experiences among aging migrants. Data extraction and thematic analysis were conducted to identify key themes. Results: The review identified 35 studies across various geographical regions, highlighting four key themes: (1) Cultural and Linguistic Accessibility, (2) The Role of Informal Caregiving, (3) Structural and Systemic Challenges, and (4) Health Outcomes and Identity Preservation. The findings indicate that language barriers, cultural stigma, and systemic exclusion significantly hinder equitable access to home healthcare. Informal caregiving by family members remains a primary support mechanism, though it places considerable strain on caregivers. The lack of culturally competent healthcare services and inadequate policy frameworks exacerbate disparities in care. Conclusions: This review highlights the critical need for systemic reforms to improve healthcare accessibility for aging migrants. Policies must prioritize cultural competence training for healthcare providers, expand multilingual healthcare services, and integrate informal caregiving into formal support structures. Investment in community-driven healthcare initiatives and targeted outreach programs can help bridge existing service gaps. While home healthcare plays a vital role in supporting aging migrants, structural inequities and cultural barriers continue to hinder equitable access. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive policy interventions, enhanced provider training, and culturally inclusive care models. Future research should explore innovative frameworks that incorporate culturally responsive practices to ensure effective and equitable home healthcare for aging migrant populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: As zero-dose vaccination has become a global health concern, understanding the practice of self-paid immunizations in migrant and left-behind children in China is crucial to the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1648 children and their caregivers in urban areas in Zhejiang Province and rural areas in Henan Province. The participants were then classified into four groups: urban local, migrant, non-left-behind, and left-behind. Results: Compared to urban local children, migrant (prevalence ratios: 1.29, 95% confidence intervals: 0.69–2.41), non-left-behind (4.72, 3.02–7.37), and left-behind (4.79, 3.03–7.56) children were more likely to be zero-dose vaccinated. Children aged 1–2 years (odds ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence intervals: 1.14–2.23) and born later (1.55, 1.12–2.14), with caregivers aged >35 years (1.49, 1.03–2.15) and less educated (elementary school or lower: 4.22, 2.39–7.45) were less likely to receive self-paid vaccinations, while caregivers other than parents (0.62, 0.41–0.94) and lower household income (0.67, 0.49–0.90) lowered the likelihood of zero-dose vaccination of self-paid vaccines. For migrant and rural zero-dose children, the majority of caregivers reported they “didn’t know where to get a vaccination”, with responses ranging from 82.3% to 93.8%. Conclusions: Migrant and rural children should be prioritized in the promotion of self-paid immunization in order to accomplish the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030’s goal of “leaving no one behind”. Full article

In the field of elderly care, robot caregivers are garnering increased attention. This article discusses the robotisation of care from a dual perspective. The first part presents an overview of recent scholarship on the use of robots in eldercare, focusing mostly on scientific evidence about the responses of older adults and caregivers. The second part turns to narrative evidence, providing a close reading of Andromeda Romano-Lax’s Plum Rains (2018), a speculative novel set in Japan in 2029, which explores the implications—ethical, affective, social—of communities of care that include non-human agents. My argument is twofold: (1) although science and fiction operate according to different models of knowledge production, considering narrative insights alongside scientific ones can enlarge our understanding of the complexities of robotic care; (2) hitherto overlooked in literary studies, Plum Rains deserves attention for its nuanced representation of a hybrid model of care, which does not discard robotic assistance on the basis of humanist arguments, nor does it endorse techno-solutionism, reminding readers that the fantasy of robots that care is fuelled by the reality of devalued human care work. Full article

This focused critical ethnography aimed to deepen our understanding of the impact of participating in a temporary, cyclical, low-wage migration program on the mental and emotional health (MEH) of Mexican women and their non-migrating family members. Except for global care chains research, the field of migrant mental health has paid limited attention to the importance of transnational family dynamics and the MEH of relatives beyond the workers’ children. The current study broadens this framework to examine how family-level changes brought about by migration affect the MEH not only the migrant and her children, but also extended family members. Participants included five women employed in the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and an average of five non-migrating members of their families in Mexico. The study combined four data generation methods: participant observation, ‘emojional’ calendars, semi-structured interviews, and sociodemographic questionnaires. Study participants’ MEH was significantly influenced by gendered selection processes and the cyclical pattern of migration. Similar impacts were observed within and across four groups of participants (workers, their children, the children’s caregivers, and extended family members) during their periods apart and together. There were significant effects of their relative’s migration on the MEH of extended family members, a population group commonly overlooked in the literature. Findings from this study suggest that public health research, programs, and policies using a transnational approach are best suited to effectively address the impacts of migration on the MEH of migrants and their non-migrating families. Full article

Confusion over what constitutes appropriate childrearing practices in culturally diverse settings may result in the stigmatization of ethnic minority families and over-reporting to child welfare services. This study explored stakeholders’ views on (in)adequate supervision across cultural and socioeconomic groups and how they assess the risk of harm in cases of lack of supervision. Focus group discussions were held with (a) adult caregivers (n = 39) and adolescents (n = 63) in family-based care from French-speaking Quebecers and migrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and South Asia; and (b) professionals (n = 67) in the education, health, child welfare, and security sectors in Quebec. The main criteria used to assess the appropriateness of supervision were the maturity, level of ability, age, and sex of the child, as well as contextual factors, such as proximity of other people, location, and type and duration of the activity. Mobility and immobility notions are used to explore the developmental considerations of competence and readiness within the home and in other social environments where adults’ and children’s perceptions of safety and maturity may differ, as well as the need to move away from rigid policy implementation. This paper advocates for careful consideration of the capacity and agency of children affected by migration in the provision of childcare support and their meaningful participation in research and decision making in matters that affect them. Full article

This article explores the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on foreign health workers in Italy. Focusing on caregivers in Lombardia, we explore what we call carer precarity, an emergent form of precarity resulting from pandemic restrictions exacerbating existing socio-legal vulnerabilities. The duality of the carer role—complete household and societal reliance in addition to simultaneous socio-legal marginalization—shapes their precarity. Utilizing data from 44 qualitative interviews with migrant care workers in live-in and daycare facilities that were conducted prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, we demonstrate how the migrant populations working in the care sector were particularly adversely affected due to their migratory status and working conditions. Migrants are excluded from or have differential access to a range of benefits or entitlements and are employed in undervalued work. Workers with live-in employment experienced tiered access to benefits plus the spatiality of restrictions, resulting in their near-complete confinement. Drawing on Gardner (2022) and Butler’s (2009) conceptualizations of precarity, we describe the emergence of a new form of pandemic-induced spatial precarity for migrant care workers at the nexus of gendered labor, limited mobility, and the spatiality of and a hierarchy of rights associated with migratory status. The findings have implications for healthcare policy and migration scholarship. Full article

The development of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV) has rendered measles a largely preventable disease. In the state of Sabah in Malaysia, a complete course of measles immunisation for infants involves vaccinations at the ages of six, nine, and twelve months. However, it is difficult for marginalised populations to receive a complete course of measles immunisation. This present study used behavioural theory (BT) to examine the beliefs and perceptions of a marginalised population towards community volunteering as a method of increasing the immunisation coverage of measles. Marginalised populations living in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, more specifically, Malaysian citizens living in urban slums and squatter areas, as well as legal and illegal migrants, were extensively interviewed in person for this qualitative study. The 40 respondents were either the parents or primary caregivers of at least one child under the age of five. The components of the Health Belief Model were then used to examine the collected data. The respondents had poor awareness of the measles disease and perceived the disease as not severe, with some even refusing immunisation. The perceived barriers to receiving vaccinations included a nomadic lifestyle; issues with finances, citizenship status, language, and weather; failing to remember immunisation schedules; a fear of health care personnel; having too many children; and a lack of female autonomy in vaccine decision-making. However, the respondents were receptive towards community-based programmes and many welcomed a recall or reminder system, especially when the volunteers were family members or neighbours who spoke the same language and knew their village well. A few, however, found it awkward to have volunteers assisting them. Evidence-based decision making may increase measles immunisation coverage in marginalised populations. The components of the Health Belief Model validated that the respondents lacked awareness of the measles disease and viewed it and its effects as not severe. Therefore, future volunteer programmes should prioritise increasing the receptivity and self-control of marginalised populations to overcome barriers that hinder community involvement. A community-based volunteer programme is highly recommended to increase measles immunisation coverage. Full article

Informal caregiving can have detrimental consequences for physical and psychological health, but the impacts are highly heterogenous. A largely ignored question is whether these impacts differ with migrant backgrounds, and whether caregiving and a migrant background combine to create double jeopardy. We explored these questions using large-scale data that allows stratification by sex, regional background, and types (inside vs. outside of household) of caregivers. We used cross-sectional 2021 data collected from two Norwegian counties as part of the Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (N = 133,705, RR = 43%, age 18+). The outcomes include subjective health, mental health, and subjective well-being. The findings show that both caregiving, especially in-household caregiving, and a migrant background relate to lower physical–psychological health. In bivariate analysis, non-Western caregivers, women particularly, reported poorer mental health and subjective well-being (but not physical health) than other caregiver groups. After controlling for background characteristics, however, no interaction exists between caregiver status and migrant background status. Although the evidence does not suggest double jeopardy for migrant caregivers, caution is warranted due to the likely underrepresentation of the most vulnerable caregivers of migrant backgrounds. Continued surveillance of caregiver burden and distress among people of migrant backgrounds is critical to develop successful preventive and supportive intervention strategies for this group, yet this aim hinges on a more inclusive representation of minorities in future surveys. Full article

Background: Since the 1960s, the Independent Life Movement has demanded personal assistance as a right for people with disabilities to access autonomy. In turn, feminist movements have shown a special concern for the care and profile of the providers. Both postures have created tensions around the provision of personal assistance and care for people with disabilities. Aim: To know and analyze the scientific evidence regarding approaches to personal assistance and care for people with disabilities. Methods: An Integrative Literature Review using five databases: Dialnet, Scielo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The Boolean combinations were: “Personal assistance AND disability”; “Personal assistance AND care AND disability”; “Care AND disability” in English, and “Asistencia personal AND discapacidad”; “Asistencia personal AND cuidados AND discapacidad”; “Cuidados AND discapacidad” in Spanish. A total of 31 scientific articles were obtained. A content analysis was then, with five analysis dimensions emerging. Results: The articles approached the positive aspects of personal assistance. Others established the need for more resources in order to not be an exclusive reality for developed countries. Profiles were made of racialized, young, migrant women as the identity behind (informal) care. From the perspective of a feminist disability care ethic, new forms of providing care are proposed, by changing the focus from individual and family responsibility, towards a social and collective focus. Conclusion: The evidence analyzed considers various dimensions of the epistemo-political tension between personal assistance and care. The meeting point between both perspectives is interdependence and autonomy; on the one side, for people with disabilities, and on the other, for the women profiled as the main caregivers. Full article

The literature on the health care of migrant patients has often emphasized the importance of cultural skills and cultural humility that caregivers must bring to their care. Recent work has emphasized the importance of adopting a structural reading of this competency. Based on two empirical surveys conducted in France and Germany in facilities providing access to care for migrants with precarious residency status, this article demonstrates the importance of competency linking in terms of what is produced by structures and institutions and what is produced during medical interactions between patients, medical professionals, and volunteers. The complexity of accessing health protection systems for migrants with precarious residency status is often the main structural and institutional barrier to care. To remove this barrier, health professionals can develop legal and administrative competency regarding residency and health rights. They can also develop institutional and practical competency regarding the possibilities of access to health care for people without health coverage in the local geographical context. Structural competency is also effective in deconstructing the stigma and discrimination that minority groups experience in the healthcare system. Full article

Growing research revolving around the plight of (Philippine) migrant domestic workers is noteworthy. However, the focus is largely on their role, capacity and identity as caregivers, meaning as labour migrants and transnational mothers engaged in both paid and unpaid care work. Building on the “care circulation” framework of Baldassar and Merla that conceptualises care as given and received in varying degrees by all family members across time and distance, this paper takes up the task of recognising migrant domestic workers as care receivers. In a particular way, this paper conceptualises care for migrant caregivers-transnational mothers that is based on a qualitative empirical study on the lived realities of Philippine migrant workers, who are also transnational mothers. An analysis of the participants’ narratives using the constructivist grounded theory approach reveals that their experience of God’s presence is central to how they navigate transnational mothering as labour migrants. This paper then proposes that their faith stories, significant as they are, be taken as a resource in providing them with spiritual care that takes their concerns into account. Full article

Population ageing and the higher prevalence of multimorbidity in later life are increasing the demand for Long-Term Care (LTC) worldwide; this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As in Europe and beyond, the bulk of care for frail older people is carried out by informal caregivers. This study aimed at understanding the factors affecting the overall worsening health of informal caregivers of older people with LTC needs living in Germany and Italy during the outbreak. To this purpose, 319 informal caregivers (149 in Germany and 173 in Italy) were surveyed online in 2020–2021. A logistic regression analysis was performed by country, to obtain an adjusted estimate of the risk of worsening of caregivers’ health. This risk increased by 42% for German caregivers compared to Italian ones, despite the former receiving more formal services. This may depend on different quality standards of LTC services and caregivers’ expectations, and on differing policies concerning migrant care workers (MCWs) during the outbreak, who could not enter Germany and were “trapped” at care recipients’ homes in Italy. Results call for in-home care reforms and policies guaranteeing more effective caregiver support, home care services and fairer working condition for MCWs in both countries. Full article