Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31122905›Full record

SynthesisThe Lancet. Global health2019

Occupational health outcomes among international migrant workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sally Hargreaves, Kieran Rustage, Laura B Nellums, Alys McAlpine, Nicola Pocock, Delan Devakumar, Robert W Aldridge, Ibrahim Abubakar, Kristina L Kristensen, Jan W Himmels and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Lancet. Global health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 161 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
161citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
61.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

161 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 338 citations in OpenAlex.

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  15. Article
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  17. Intentional injuries in newcomers to Alberta, 2016-2023.Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique · 2026
    Article
  18. Article
  19. Immigrant and Mistrust in the Healthcare Setting: A Thematic Review.Journal of immigrant and minority health · 2026
    Review
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101 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Sally HargreavesInstitute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, UK. Electronic address: s.hargreaves@sgul.ac.uk.
Kieran RustageInstitute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Laura B NellumsInstitute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Alys McAlpineGender, Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Nicola PocockGender, Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Delan DevakumarInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London.
Robert W AldridgeInstitute for Health Informatics, University College London, London.
Ibrahim AbubakarInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London.
Kristina L KristensenDanish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jan W HimmelsInstitute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Jon S FriedlandInstitute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Cathy ZimmermanGender, Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GBUniversity College London · GBImperial College London · GBInstitute of Infection and Immunity · CASt George's, University of London · GBUniversity of Copenhagen · DK

Funding

Wellcome Trust 206602/Z/17/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGlobally, there are more than 150 million international migrant workers-individuals who are employed outside of their country of origin-comprising the largest international migrant group. A substantial number of migrants work in hazardous and exploitative environments, where they might be at considerable risk of injury and ill health. However, little data on occupational health outcomes of migrant workers exist, with which to inform global policy making and delivery of health services.

methodsFor this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Embase, MEDLINE, Ovid Global Health, and PsychINFO databases for primary research published between Jan 1, 2008, and Jan 24, 2018, reporting occupational health outcomes among international migrant workers (defined as individuals who are or have been employed outside their country of origin), without language or geographical restrictions. We excluded studies containing mixed cohorts of migrants and native workers in which migrant data could not be disaggregated, and studies that did not explicitly report migrant status. The main outcome was prevalence of occupational health outcomes (defined as any injury, mortality, or physical or psychiatric morbidity due to an individual's work or workplace environment) among international migrant workers. Summary estimates were calculated using random-effects models. The study protocol has been registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018099465.

findingsOf the 1218 studies identified by our search, 36 studies were included in our systematic review, and 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The systematic review included occupational health outcomes for 12 168 international migrant workers employed in 13 countries and territories, mostly employed in unskilled manual labour. Migrant workers originated from 25 low-income and middle-income countries, and worked in the following sectors: agriculture; domestic, retail, and service sectors; construction and trade; and manufacturing and processing. Migrant workers had various psychiatric and physical morbidities, and workplace accidents and injuries were relatively common. In the meta-analysis, among 7260 international migrant workers, the pooled prevalence of having at least one occupational morbidity was 47% (95% CI 29-64; I

interpretationInternational migrant workers are at considerable risk of work-related ill health and injury, and their health needs are critically overlooked in research and policy. Governments, policy makers, and businesses must enforce and improve occupational health and safety measures, which should be accompanied by accessible, affordable, and appropriate health care and insurance coverage to meet the care needs of this important working population.

fundingWellcome Trust.

Indexed as

Health StatusOccupational HealthTransients and MigrantsDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansMale

Identifiers

PMID31122905
PMCPMC6565984
OpenAlexW2945394191

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.