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Occupational, physical, sexual and mental health and violence among migrant and trafficked commercial fishers and seafarers from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): systematic review

Pocock NS 1 , Nguyen LH 2 , Lucero-Prisno Iii DE 3 , Zimmerman C 1 , Oram S 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 1Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH UK
  • 2 3School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, No. 144 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • 3 4Department of Public Health, Emerging and Interdisciplinary Sciences Building (ES) South Campus, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123 People's Republic of China
  • 4 5Section of Women's Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, 16 De Crespigny Park, Kings College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
Glob Health Res Policy, 2018;3:28.
PMID: 30288452 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-018-0083-x

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the health of GMS commercial fishers and seafarers, many of whom are migrants and some trafficked. This systematic review summarizes evidence on occupational, physical, sexual and mental health and violence among GMS commercial fishers/seafarers.

Methods: We searched 5 electronic databases and purposively searched grey literature. Quantitative or qualitative studies reporting prevalence or risk of relevant outcomes were included. Two reviewers independently screened articles. Data were extracted on nationality and long/short-haul fishing where available.

Results: We identified 33 eligible papers from 27 studies. Trafficked fishers/seafarers were included in n=12/13 grey literature and n=1/20 peer-reviewed papers. Among peer-reviewed papers: 11 focused on HIV/AIDS/sexual health; nine on occupational/physical health; one study included mental health of trafficked fishers. Violence was quantitatively measured in eight papers with prevalence of: 11-26% in port convenience samples; 68-100% in post-trafficking service samples. Commercial fishers/seafarers whether trafficked or not worked extremely long hours; trafficked long-haul fishers had very limited access to care following injuries or illness. Lesser-known risks reported among fishers included penile oil injections and beriberi. We found just one work safety intervention study and inconclusive evidence for differences in the outcomes by nationality. Findings are limited by methodological weaknesses of primary studies.

Conclusion: Results show an absence of high-quality epidemiological studies beyond sexual health. Formative and pilot intervention research on occupational, physical and mental health among GMS commercial fishers and seafarers is needed. Future studies should include questions about violence and exploitation. Ethical and reporting standards of grey literature should be improved.

Trial Registration: Review registration number: PROSPERO 2014: CRD42014009656.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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