MyMedR

Displaying all 5 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Healthcare Policies for Stateless Populations in ASEAN Countries: A Scoping Review

Barua P, Bangpan M, Narattharaksa K, Suphanchaimat R, Chaiyakunapruk N

J Immigr Minor Health, 2020 Jun;22(3):597-620.
PMID: 31741181 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00945-y

This study aimed at summarizing the existing health policies for stateless populations living in the 10 ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. We followed scoping review method recommended by Arksey and O'Malley. Our inclusion criteria were based on three concepts: populations (stateless and undocumented people), issues (healthcare policies and regulations), and settings (10 ASEAN countries). Our findings suggest that none of the ASEAN countries have explicit healthcare policies for stateless people except Thailand. We also observed that ratification of international human rights treaties relating to the right to health does not necessarily translate into the provision of healthcare policies for stateless population. Although Thailand seems like the only country among 10 ASIAN countries having health policies for stateless populations in the country, the question remains whether having a policy would lead to a proper implementation by ensuring right to health.

Matched MeSH terms: Undocumented Immigrants*
Beriberi Outbreak Among Unauthorised Immigrants in a Detention Camp in Malaysia

Abdul Rahman S, Jeffree MS, Kamaludin F, Din IA, Yusof M, Ahmed K

J Immigr Minor Health, 2018 Oct;20(5):1294-1297.
PMID: 29159485 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0674-5

In February 2012, a district health authority received three inmates with bilateral leg swelling and difficulty in breathing from a detention camp for unauthorized immigrants. A case control study was conducted. Fasting blood samples of case and control groups were collected according to instructions of the laboratory for determining thiamine level, and their 1 week dietary intake was analyzed. 9% (21/226) of inmates had bilateral leg swelling, and 75% (6/8) of them had low thiamine level (

Matched MeSH terms: Undocumented Immigrants*
Fulltext A review on illegals and the stateless in Sabah

Narinderjeet Kaur, Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim, Mohd Yusof Ibrahim, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree, Mazlinda Musa

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):13-13.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Illegal immigrants refer to the migration of people into a country in ways that violates its immigra-tion laws. A stateless person is a person who is not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law. Interestingly, many who are stateless have never even crossed an international border. The term illegal is very loosely used in places like Sabah where it is interchanged with statelessness. As of 13 November 2018, it was estimated that there are about 12 million stateless people in the world. This review seeks to understand the current demographic situation in Sabah along with the public health repercussions of this demographic change and also to look into the success stories from around the world along with the recommendations from United Nation in solving this matter. Methods: The method used is reviewing of literature of previous studies conducted on statelessness and illegals. Local as well as international studies were reviewed. The data base used was ProQuest. Results: This review identified that one third of Sabah’s population consists of non-locals and in the past 27 years, about half a million illegal immigrants have been deported from Sabah. These numbers pose major public health repercussions from the economic, crime and health point of view. The way forward involves incorporating the United Nation Action plan with the local requirements and settings. Despite challenges, Sabah is trying its best to curb this issue and the Public health repercussions through various initiatives. We have also identified that more public health actions can be taken to reduce the negative effects. Conclusion: Dealing with the stateless and illegals is a delicate matter and there is no one way to solve it. Every country and every state are unique therefore the methods used must be tailor made. This is not something that can be solved within a short period of time and therefore persistence and perseverance is very much needed to tackle this global issue.

Matched MeSH terms: Undocumented Immigrants
Fulltext Breaking down the barriers: Understanding migrant workers' access to healthcare in Malaysia

Loganathan T, Rui D, Ng CW, Pocock NS

PLoS One, 2019;14(7):e0218669.
PMID: 31269052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218669

BACKGROUND: Malaysia is widely credited to have achieved universal health coverage for citizens. However, the accessibility of healthcare services to migrant workers is questionable. Recently, medical fees for foreigners at public facilities were substantially increased. Mandatory health insurance only covers public hospital admissions and excludes undocumented migrants. This study explores barriers to healthcare access faced by documented and undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia.
METHODS: We use qualitative data from 17 in-depth interviews conducted with key informants from civil society organisations, trade unions, academia, medical professionals, as well as migrant workers and their representatives. We interviewed doctors working in public hospitals and private clinics frequented by migrants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: We found that healthcare services in Malaysia are often inaccessible to migrant workers. Complex access barriers were identified, many beyond the control of the health sector. Major themes include affordability and financial constraints, the need for legal documents like valid passports and work permits, language barriers, discrimination and xenophobia, physical inaccessibility and employer-related barriers. Our study suggests that government mandated insurance for migrant workers is insufficient in view of the recent increase in medical fees. The perceived close working relationship between the ministries of health and immigration effectively excludes undocumented migrants from access to public healthcare facilities. Language barriers may affect the quality of care received by migrant workers, by inadvertently resulting in medical errors, while preventing them from giving truly informed consent.
CONCLUSIONS: We propose instituting migrant-friendly health services at public facilities. We also suggest implementing a comprehensive health insurance to enable healthcare access and financial risk protection for all migrant workers. Non-health sector solutions include the formation of a multi-stakeholder migration management body towards a comprehensive national policy on labour migration which includes health.

Matched MeSH terms: Undocumented Immigrants/statistics & numerical data*
Current trends in morbidity and mortality of children in Malaysia

Lin, Hai Peng, Mohd Sham Kasim

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1997;9(2):104-132.
MyJurnal

Malaysia is a rapidly developing country with a very young population, about 36% of which are below the age of 15 years. The standard of child health has improved greatly. However, there are great changes in the morbidity and mortality patterns of childhood diseases relating mainly to an improved standard of living; availability of safe water supply and adequate sanitary latrines; a higher literacy rate; rapid industrialisation and urban migration. The infant mortality rate has droppedfrom 50.1 per 1,000 livebirths in 1986 to 10.4 in 1995, and similar trends apply also to neonatal, perinatal and toddler mortality rates. Nevertheless, current major child health problems are those relating to events in the perinatal period and to infections. Despite improvements in the standard of neonatal care with the use ofhigh technology, the commonest cause of certified deaths still occur in the neonatal period. A rapid and inexpensive screening test for G6PD deficiency, a disease present in 2-3% of the population, is now widely available and, together with the use of phototherapy is largely responsible for the declining incidence of kernicterus in the country. Infections remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality although their patterns have changed. The very high (>95%) WHO-EPI-vaccines coverage rate is linked to the great reduction in the incidence of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles. Childhood tuberculosis is less common now, with about 250 - 300 reported cases per year and TB meningitis is rare with about 30-40 reported cases/year. The hepatitis B carrier rate is high (5%) and the introduction of routine newborn hepatitis B vaccination in 1989 is expected to have a positive impact as is the immunisation of young girls against rubella introduced in 1985 in reducing the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome. The incidence of malaria has declined but remains prevalent in the interiors of PeninsularMalaysia and in Sabah and Sarawak. Filariasis is largely under control. Unfortunately, despite great efforts at mosquito control, dengue virus infection remains a major problem with thousands of cases reported every year. Children are most susceptible to dengue haemorrhagic fever with many dying from the shock syndrome. The incidence of acute gastroenteritis has also dropped with most cases being due to a viral aetiology. Acute respiratory infections, mostly viral in origin, account for most attendances at paediatric outpatient services. Although staphylococcal and streptococcal impetigo and pneumonia are common, the incidence of streptococcal related diseases like rheumatic fever and acute glomendonephritis is rapidly declining. The nutritional status of children has improved in tandem with the rise in the standard of living, but subclinical malnutrition is prevalent, particularly among urban squatters and the rural poor. There is a disturbing decline in breastfeeding among urban working mothers. Poor weaning practices and food habits are responsible for the common occurrence of nutritional anaemia (5%) among infants and young children. Greater prosperity, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have resulted in changes in the childhood disease pattern where non-communicable diseases assume greater importance as the problems of malnutrition and infection are gradually overcome. Road traffic accidents are a major killer and home accidents, largely preventable, are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Childhood cancer, with about 550 new cases a year, is an important cause of death beyond infancy. Major congenital malformations, with a 1% prevalence rate, cause much ill-health. Thalassaemia is a particularly common genetic disease with fl thalassaemia gene frequency of about 5%. The prevalence of asthma is increasing, with a rate of 13.9% in the Kiang Valley but the prevalence of asthma-related symptoms is much higher. Physical, sexual child abuse and neglect, abandoned babies, substance abuse are but signs of stress of modern city living and peoples inability to cope with it. Although the general standard of child health has greatly improved, there are several states where it is still not satisfactory. In Sabah where there is a large illegal immigrant population, the infant mortality and infection rates are relatively high. In Kelantan and Trengganu, it is common for parents to refuse permission for a lumbar puncture required to treat meningitis. Other still deeply entrenched, culturally-related adverse health practices include : a fatalistic attitude to illness; a preference for traditional practitioners of medicine resulting in late treatment; and 'doctor-hopping' with unrealistic expectations of 'instant cure'. Childhood illnesses that are uncommon in Malaysia include: cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Encopresis, enuresis and epiglottitis due to Haemophilus Influen:ae.

Matched MeSH terms: Undocumented Immigrants