Health Service Access among Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers in Taiwan

Shuen-Fu Weng; Azis Malik; Utoomporn Wongsin; Franziska Michaela Lohmeyer; Li-Fong Lin; Suleman Atique; Wen-Shan Jian; Yuherina Gusman; Usman Iqbal

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073759

Health Service Access among Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers in Taiwan

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 4;18(7):3759. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073759.

Authors

Shuen-Fu Weng^{1

2}, Azis Malik³, Utoomporn Wongsin⁴, Franziska Michaela Lohmeyer⁵, Li-Fong Lin^{6

7

8

9}, Suleman Atique¹⁰, Wen-Shan Jian^{6

9

11

12}, Yuherina Gusman¹³, Usman Iqbal^{3

4

12}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
² Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
³ Master Program in Global Health & Development Department, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
⁴ PhD Program in Global Health & Health Security Department, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
⁵ Scientific Directorate, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
⁶ School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan.
⁸ Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
⁹ Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Department of Health Informatics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, Ha'il City 55211, Saudi Arabia.
¹¹ School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
¹² International Center for Health Information Technology (ICHIT), Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan.
¹³ International Doctoral Program for Asia Pacific Studies, National Chengchi University, Taipei City 11605, Taiwan.

Abstract

The number of migrant workers in Taiwan increases annually. The majority is from Indonesia and most of them are female caregivers. This study aims to determine the access to health services and the associated factors among Indonesian female domestic workers in Taiwan. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from February to May 2019, using a structured questionnaire. Subsequently, multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between socio-demographic factors and health service access. Two hundred and eighty-four domestic migrant workers were interviewed. Eighty-five percent of the respondents declared sickness at work, but only 48.8% seek health care services. Factors associated with health service access were marital status, income, and the availability of an attendant to accompany the migrant workers to the healthcare facilities. Language barrier and time flexibility were the main obstacles. Further research and an effective health service policy are needed for the domestic migrant workers to better access health care services.

Keywords: Taiwan; global health; health service access; healthcare; migrant workers; public health.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Services
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Indonesia / epidemiology
Male
Taiwan / epidemiology
Transients and Migrants*