Migrants and their working and health conditions: integrative review from the nursing look

Rodríguez-Campo, Varinia Alejandra; Valenzuela-Suazo, Sandra Verónica

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Sumário

REVIEW • Esc. Anna. Nery 24 (3) • 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-EAN-2019-0299 copy

Migrants and their working and health conditions: integrative review from the nursing look

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective

To analize the scientific, indexed production associated to the working and health conditions in migrants.

Method

Integrative review of articles published in the period 2009-2019, using Medline/PUBMED, SCOPUS and ScIELO databases, by using the DeCS and MeSH keywords: Working conditions, Health Status and Immigrants.

Results

A total of 21 studies were obtained, distributed in 17 in Medline/PUBMED, 3 in ScIELO and 1 in SCOPUS. Most of them of quantitative type carried out in Brazil and Spain. Discrimination, exploitation, poor quality life, level of education and poor self-perception of health were the main results.

Conclusions

There is a lack of studies that show the reality in Latin America, for nursing as a discipline and profession a great challenge opens up to study the migrant worker population, since it will allow tohighlight this human group, interventions that favor health will be generated of this population and can promote healthy behaviors at work and individual level.

Keywords:
Working conditions; Health status; Immigrants

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rua Afonso Cavalcanti, 275, Cidade Nova, 20211-110 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brasil, Tel: +55 21 3398-0952 e 3398-0941 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: annaneryrevista@gmail.com

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[1] Corresponding autor
Sandra Verónica Valenzuela-Suazo E-mail: svalenzu@udec.cl

Author(s),year, country of the publication	Title of the Publication	Type of study, population and sample	Main Results
Leão et al.,²²22 Leão LH, Muraro AP, Borges FT, Machado J. The health of Haitian immigrant workers in Mato Grosso, Brazil: vulnerabilities and risks. Salud Colect. 2018;14(4):779-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.18294/sc.2018.1391. PMid:30726452. http://dx.doi.org/10.18294/sc.2018.1391... 2018, Brazil	The health of Haitian immigrant workers in Mato Grosso, Brazil: vulnerabilities and risks.	Quantitative N = 2,151 n=440 (370 men/70 women)	52.7% of the migrants were workingandthe 26.5% mentionedaweekly hourly loadexceeding 48 hours. This indicatesthe fragility of the social insertion of this Haitian populationin productive processes of high socio-environmental risk.
Gebreyesus et al.,²³23 Gebreyesus T, Sultan Z, Ghebrezghiabher HM, Tol WA, Winch PJ, Davidovitch N et al. Life on the margins: the experiences of sexual violence and exploitation among Eritrean asylum-seeking women in Israel. BMC Womens Health. 2018;18(1):135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0624-y. PMid:30089494. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-062... 2018, Israel	Life on the margins: the experiences of sexual violence and exploitation among Eritrean asylum-seeking women in Israel.	Qualitative 25: key informants 12:individual interviews 8 focal groups (4 men and 4 women)	The restrictive immigration policies of Israel laid the foundation for the political and economic marginalization of asylum-seekers, hindered access to formal employment and its protections, and contributed to women´s vulnerabilityto sexual and domestic violence and exploitation.
Montoro-Gurich,²⁴24 Montoro-Gurich C. The impact of socio-economic factors on the health of the Moroccan immigrants in Navarra (Spain). Finisterra. 2018;53(109):71-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.18055/Finis13745. http://dx.doi.org/10.18055/Finis13745... 2018, Spain	The impact of socio-economic factors on the health of the Moroccan immigrants in Navarra (Spain)	Quantitative non-probabilistic sample of 262 immigrants	Women reported a poorer perception of health than men. Informal and formal ties benefit the search for employment, housing, access to resources such as education, health, language assistance, obtaining of documents and affection. Work generates autonomy and a positive perception of health in women.
Di Napoli et al.,²⁵25 Di Napoli A, Gatta R, Rossi A, Perez M, Constanzo G, Mirisola C et al. Perceived discrimination atworkfor being an immigrant: a study on self-perceived mentalhealth statusamongimmigrantsin Italy. Epidemiol Prev. 2017;41(3-4, Suppl 1):33-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.19191/EP17.3-4S1.P033.063. PMid:28929725. http://dx.doi.org/10.19191/EP17.3-4S1.P0... 2017, Italy	Perceived discrimination at work for being an immigrant: a study on self-perceived mental health status among immigrants in Italy	Quantitative Subsampleof 12,408 immigrants in Italy	15.8% reported discriminationin their workplacefor being an immigrant, which is a risk factorfor self-perceivedmental health in immigrants in Italy.
Petrelli et al.,²⁶26 Petrelli A, Di Napoli A, Rossi A, Gargiulo L, Mirisola C, Costanzo G. Self-perceived health status among immigrantsin Italy. Epidemiol Prev. 2017;41(3-4, Suppl 1):11-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.19191/EP17.3-4S1.P011.060. PMid:28929722. http://dx.doi.org/10.19191/EP17.3-4S1.P0... 2017, Italy	Self-perceived health status among immigrants in Italy.	Quantitative n=80,661 3.2% immigrants (year 2005) n=72,476 7.15 immigrants (year 2013)	Immigrants seemed to have a better perception of the state of the physical and mental health than Italians. As time goes by, this self-perception diminishes. Increases in unemployment and decreases in incomealso made access to health care more difficult, probably associated with the economic crisis.
Premji,²⁷27 Premji S. “It’s totally destroyed our life”: exploring the pathways and mechanisms between precarious employment and health and well-being among immigrant men and women in Toronto. Int J Health Serv. 2018 Jan;48(1):106-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020731417730011. PMid:28906167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00207314177300... 2018, Canada	“It’s Totally Destroyed Our Life”: Exploring the Pathways and Mechanisms Between Precarious Employment and Health and Well-being Among Immigrant Men and Women in Toronto	Qualitative Semi-structured Interview to 15 women 12 Menfrom 11 differentcountries	Precarious employment was defined as:impotence, economic insecurity, multiple employers, unpredictable and inadequate hours,undervaluation of employment, dangerous conditions, lack of benefits and protections, which negatively impacts the physical and mental health of workers and their families. Women described heavy burdens of domestic and care work, lack of social support networks, lack of access to childcare, among others.
Vahabi and Wong,²⁸28 Vahabi M, Wong JP. Caught between a rock and a hard place: mentalhealthof migrant live-in caregivers in Canada. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):498. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4431-4. PMid:28535792. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-443... 2017, Canada	Caught between a rock and a hard place: mental health of migrant live-in caregivers in Canada.	Mixed Sampling for convenience snowball type n= 30 women	They highlight: precarious jobs where exploitation is encouraged, presence of double life (of public joy and private anguish), with unrecognized mental health needs. There are serious injustices experienced by these women.
Ronda et al.,²⁹29 Ronda E, Briones-Vozmediano E, Galon T, García AM, Benavides FG, Agudelo-Suárez AA. A qualitative exploration of the impact of the economic recession in Spain on working, living and health conditions: reflections based on immigrant workers’ experiences. Health Expect. 2016;19(2):416-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.12365. PMid:25846581. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.12365... 2016, Spain	A qualitative exploration of the impact of the economic recession in Spain on working, living and health conditions: reflections based on immigrant workers' experiences.	Qualitative n = 44 immigrant workers 6 discussion groups	Three categories related to the crisis emerge from the discourses: previous labor experiences, labor and individual consequences of migrant workers and the change in employment and labor conditions in the pre-crisis period. The deterioration of their quality of life and health as a consequence of the crisis appears, increasing social vulnerability, which can lead to the failure of their migration project.
Siqueira et al.,³⁰30 Siqueira C, Soares GB, Araujo No P, Tracy MN. Documento faz diferença: o caso das trabalhadoras domésticas brasileiras em Massachusetts, Estados Unidos. Cad Saude Publica. 2016;32(7):00131115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00131115. PMid:27462853. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00131... 2016, USA	Document makes a difference: the case of Brazilian domestic workers in Massachusetts, United States.	Quantitative Non-probabilistic “snowball” type sample n=198	95.5% were women, 62.1% were aged 30-49 and 55.6% were undocumented. There were significant differencesbetween legal and non-legal participants in socio-demographic, working conditions and health variables.
Maxwell et al.,³¹31 Maxwell AE, Young S, Crespi CM, Vega RR, Cayetano RT, Bastani R. Social determinants of health in the Mixtec and Zapotec community in Ventura County, California. Int J Equity Health. 2015;14(1):16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12939-015-0148-0. PMid:25643835. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12939-015-014... 2015, USA	Social determinants of health in the Mixtec and Zapotec community in Ventura County, California.	Quantitative n=989 respondents	Seventy-four % of them report insufficient employmentopportunities, 59% report insufficient resources for food and housing (48%), lack of transportation (59%) and discrimination or intimidation (34%). Most reported access to health care for children (90%), but only 57% were able to obtain health care for themselves.
Bover et al.,³²32 Bover A, Taltavull JM, Gastaldo D, Luengo R, Izquierdo MD, Juando-Prats C et al. Quality of life in Latin American immigrant caregivers in Spain. Gac Sanit. 2015;29(2):123-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2014.09.009. PMid:25444641. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2014.... 2015, Spain	Quality of life in Latin American immigrant caregivers in Spain.	Quantitative n=517 women	Participants scored very low on thephysical and emotional dimensions of quality of life. The associated factors were working as a caregiver, lack of a work contract, multi-tasking, irregular status and younger age.
Dzúrová and Drbohlav et al.,³³33 Dzúrová D, Drbohlav D. Immigrants and workplace discrimination gender inequalities in the health of in Czechia. BioMed Res Int. 2014;2014:1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/480425. PMid:25105125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/480425... 2014, Czech Republic	Gender inequalities in the health of immigrants and workplace discrimination in Czechia	Quantitative n=1498	Ukrainian immigrant women were exposed to all four types of job discrimination measured, modifying and worsening the quality of self-perception of health. Health determinantsvary between Ukrainians and Czechs.
Domnich et al.,³⁴34 Domnich A, Amicizia D, Panatto D, Signori A, Perelli V, Adamoli S et al. Use of different subjective health indicators to assess health inequalities in an urban immigrant population in north-western Italy: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(1):1006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1006. PMid:24156544. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1... 2013, Italy	Use of different subjective health indicators to assess health inequalities in an urban immigrant population in north-western Italy: a cross-sectional study.	Quantitative Snowballsampling n=512 migrants	The subjects showed moderate levels of Quality of life in healthat the physical and mental levels. 15% of themrated their health as fair or poor. The lowest scores in the physical dimension were associated with the presence of morbidity and immigration for work and religious reasons.One third reported a medical condition. The prevalence of multiple morbidity was 10%.
Moreno-López et al.,³⁵35 Moreno-López AB, Ballesta-Ruiz M, Salmerón-Martínez D, Navarro Sánchez C, Tormo Díaz MJ. Influencia de la doble carga de trabajo en el estado de salud percibida y utilización de servicios sanitarios de las poblaciones inmigrante y autóctona de la región de Murcia. Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2013;87(4):351-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1135-57272013000400006. PMid:24100774. http://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1135-57272013... 2013, Spain	Influence of the double workload on the perceived health and use of health services of the immigrant and native populations of the Region of Murcia	Quantitative sampling was stratified, multi-stage and by clusters n=1,303(738 men and 565 women)	The main gender inequalities in health and use of health servicesin the immigrant population are found in the Hispanic American group, highlighting hospitalizations, visits to the family doctor and the consumption of drugs. Women take care of reproductive tasks and present less positive perception of health, greater chronic morbidity and activity limitation.
Silveira et al.,³⁶36 Silveira C, Carneiro Jr N, Ribeiro MC, Barata R. Living conditions and access to health services by Bolivian immigrantes in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Cad Saude Publica. 2013;29(10):2017-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00113212. PMid:24127096. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00113... 2013, Brazil	Living conditions and access to health services by Bolivian immigrants in the city of São Paulo, Brazil	Quantitative n=183 adults	Per capita income increases over the years in the country. The employment situation does not change over the years, they work and live in the textile workshops and speak their native languages. Social networks of family and friends predominate. Access to health care occurs via progressive inclusion.
Dunlavy and Rostila,³⁷37 Dunlavy AC, Rostila M. Health inequalities among workers with a foreign background in Sweden: do working conditions matter? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(7):2871-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10072871. PMid:23846669. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10072871... 2013, Sweden	Health inequalities among workers with a foreign background in Sweden: do working conditions matter	Quantitative n= 4.021 personsbetween 18 and 65 years old	Workers from Eastern Europe, Latin America and other non-Western workers were at greater risk of mental health problems and mental distress compared to native Swedish workers. Exposure to adverse working conditions only minimally influenced the risk of ill health.
Sanchón-Macias et al.,³⁸38 Solé M, Diaz-Serrano L, Rodríguez M. Disparities in work, risk and health between immigrants and native-born Spaniards. Soc Sci Med. 2013;76(1):179-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.10.022. PMid:23164972. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.20... 2013, Spain	Relationship between subjective social status and perceived health among Latin American immigrant women	Quantitative N= 371 Latin American migrant women	A higher prevalence of negative health perception was observed among uneducated, low-income, unemployed and undocumented women.Subjective social status is a better predictor of health status than socioeconomic status.
Solé et al.,³⁸38 Solé M, Diaz-Serrano L, Rodríguez M. Disparities in work, risk and health between immigrants and native-born Spaniards. Soc Sci Med. 2013;76(1):179-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.10.022. PMid:23164972. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.20... 2013, Spain	Disparities in work, risk and health between immigrants and native-born Spaniards.	Quantitative n=37880 migrants 681078 Spaniards	Exposure to risk increases the likelihood of permanent disability. Temporary employment and low-skilled jobs are risky.Better education levels reduce disability, and women are more able to be disabled.
Nalini Junko,³⁹39 Nalini Junko N. Identifying psychosocial stressors of well-being and factors related to substance use among Latino day laborers. J Immigr Minor Health. 2011;13(4):748-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9413-x. PMid:21107694. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-941... 2011, USA	Identifying psychosocial stressors of well-being and factors related to substance use among Latino day laborers	QualitativeSampleof 44 people	The welfare of migrants, defined as financial provision, is related to their precarious living conditions associated with undocumented and irregular working conditions. The presence of factors such as: labor rights abuses, discrimination and social isolationhad an impact on well-being and substance use. Fear of deportation or lack of trust by workersdid not keep everything confidential.
Sousa et al.,⁴⁰40 Sousa E, Agudelo-Suárez A, Benavides F, Schenker M, García A, Benach J et al. Immigration, work and health in Spain: the influence of legal status and employment contract on reported health indicators. Int J Public Health. 2010;55(5):443-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0141-8. PMid:20401513. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-014... 2010, Spain	Immigration, work and health in Spain: the influence of legal status and employment contract on reported health indicators.	Quantitative n=1.849 foreign workersand 509 Spanish workers	Worse health is observed in: undocumented, workers with temporary contracts born in Spainand born abroad with time less than 3 years. Health risks for migrant women are associated with the presence and type of contract. The type of contract is a determinant of health in foreign and Spanish workers.
Agudelo-Suárez et al.,¹⁶16 Agudelo-Suárez AA, Ronda-Pérez E, Gil-González D, Vives-Cases C, García AM, García-Benavides F et al. Proceso migratorio, condiciones laborales y salud en trabajadores inmigrantes en España (proyecto ITSAL). Gac Sanit. 2009;23(Supl 1):115-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2009.07.007. PMid:19880220. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2009.... 2009, Spain	The migration process, working conditions and health of immigrant workers in Spain (ITSAL project).	Quantitative Stratified sample by country of origin, legal status andgender. N= 2434 workers (57,4% men)	Most had migrated for economic and labor reasonsandhad completed secondary education. They work in jobs below their educational level and reported problems with the type of contract, wages, and excess hours of work per week. They reported physical and mental health problems, absences from work due to health problems, and work injuries requiring medical care.