MyMedR

Displaying all 5 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Manuscript Stress levels and its associated factors among Nepali, Bangladeshi and Indonesian migrant workers in the Klang Valley, Selangor, Malaysia.

Adline Foo O. Y, Jeevanaraj, Pravina, Mariam-Aisha F., Beatrice, Anne, Pereira, Adrian

Journal of Management & Science, 2017;15(1):79-81.
MyJurnal

Stress is a major health issue in this century especially related to occupation. Malaysia receives numerous of migrant workers each year who may encounter health issue which related to high stress level. This study was aimed to correlate stress levels of migrant workers to their blood pressure (BP), their stress prevalence and the occupational factors associated with their stress levels. Respondents were from Subang, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. Questionnaires were given and BP reading was taken. Overall, the respondents comprised of 113 Indonesians, 68 Nepalese, and 38 Bangladeshis. Although the migrant workers live in stressful work environment, their health conditions are not compromised. This was reflected by their BP readings. Most of the migrant workers are male, married with secondary education. A total of 85.4% of the migrant workers had higher than average perceived stress levels, with >50% very high perceived stress levels. Occupational factors related to stress among migrant workers are large amount of work, insufficient time to complete work, no feedback allowed on workplace policy, differences of opinion in department, departmental personnel cannot get along with others, poor working environment. The majority of migrant workers in the Klang Valley work as domestic helpers, and staff in service and manufacturing sectors. Occupation-related problems are prominent stress factor. Although the stress levels were high, this did not apparently impact their health.
Fulltext Exploratory Study on Occupational Health Hazards among Health Care Workers in the Philippines

Faller EM, Bin Miskam N, Pereira A

Ann Glob Health, 2018 08 31;84(3):338-341.
PMID: 30835385 DOI: 10.29024/aogh.2316

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Healthcare workers are prone to occupational hazards. The study aims to identify the occupational health hazards among healthcare workers in the Philippines and its essential relevant developmental framework. This article evolved on the responses of participants on how they can improve strategies and barriers for healthcare workers to comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OSH).
METHODS: A qualitative study design in which 15 healthcare workers from nurses (4), pharmacists (3), medical technologies (4) and medical doctors (4) participated: two focus group of three to four participants each and eight in-depth interviews. The thematic sessions were identified, including occupational health and safety policy implementations, hazards experiences, barriers, and strategies for quality improvement for OSH. Focus groups and interviews using transcript-based analysis were identified relating to emerging themes on the challenges they had experienced while accessing provisions of OSH in their workplace.
RESULTS: Majority of the participants revealed the existence of policy on Occupational Health and Safety (provisions, guidelines and regulations on OHS from the government) and mentioned that there were limited OHS officers to supervise the healthcare workers in their workplace. Some have limited accessibility to the requirements of the implementation of OHS (free facemasks, gloves, disinfectants, machines, OSH staff, etc.) among healthcare workers, while the workload of the staff in the implementation of OHS in the workplace gradually increased. The results indicated that the respondents were knowledgeable in the implementation of OHS in the workplace, and that there was no existing ASEAN framework on the protection and promotion of the rights of healthcare workers in their workplace. Facilities need to improve health assessment, and to ensure constant evaluation of the existing laws for healthcare workers (quality assurance of existing policies) in their working areas. Direct access to OSH officers, occupational hazards education, emergency contact etc. must be improved. Adherence must be strengthened to fully comply with the OHS standards.
CONCLUSION: The researchers inferred that issues and concerns regarding compliance on provisions of occupational health and safety among health care workers must be properly addressed through immediate monitoring and reevaluation of personnel in terms of their knowledge and practices in OHS. Barriers and challenges have been identified in the study that can lead to improved compliance among healthcare workers in regards to OHS.
Fulltext Correction to: Low-wage migrant workers during coronavirus disease 2019: a social determinants analysis

Saparamadu AADNS, Sharpe A, Kim S, Barbosa BLFA, Pereira A

J Public Health Policy, 2021 Oct 01.
PMID: 34599266 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-021-00305-x
Sudden cardiac death and kidney health related problems among Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia

Aryal N, Regmi PR, Faller EM, van Teijlingen E, Khoon CC, Pereira A, et al.

Nepal J Epidemiol, 2019 Sep;9(3):788-791.
PMID: 31687253 DOI: 10.3126/nje.v9i3.25805

This paper reports on a consultation meeting that discussed two emerging health issues of Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia and the ways they can be addressed. Primarily, it focused on the issue of sudden cardiac deaths of Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia. This issue has been raised internationally by both scientific and media in the recent years. Secondly, it discussed kidney health related problem among Nepali migrant workers which has caught the attention of Nepali media recently. The meeting was organized in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 19th April, 2019 where twenty people including health researchers, representatives of migrant related national and international organizations, and Nepali migrant workers participated. The meeting concluded that three types of data collection are needed: (1) good record of deaths, if at possible proper post-mortems; (2) a verbal autopsy tool to help identify underlying causes ; and qualitative research into kidney related problems.
Fulltext Low-wage migrant workers during coronavirus disease 2019: a social determinants analysis

Saparamadu AADNS, Sharpe A, Kim S, Barbosa BLFA, Pereira A

J Public Health Policy, 2021 Sep;42(3):452-464.
PMID: 34417557 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-021-00303-z

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has had disproportionate effects on economically and socially marginalized people. We explore the effects on low-wage migrant workers (migrant workers) in three countries: Singapore, South Korea and Brazil, through the lens of the social determinants of health. Our analysis shows that governments missed key opportunities to mitigate pandemic risks for migrant workers. Government measures demonstrate potential for effective and sustainable policy reform, including universal and equitable access to healthcare, social safety nets and labour rights for migrant workers-key concerns of the Global Compact for Migration. A whole-of-society and a whole-of-government approach with Health in All Policies, and migrant worker frameworks developed by the World Health Organization could be instrumental. The current situation indicates a need to frame public health crisis responses and policies in ways that recognize social determinants as fundamental to health.