Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39605001›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2024

The COVID-19 experience among international migrant workers in the Republic of Korea: knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies.

Jayoung Park, Jongho Heo, Woong-Han Kim, Sugy Choi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jayoung ParkDepartment of Human Systems Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jongho HeoDepartment of Human Systems Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Woong-Han KimDepartment of Human Systems Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sugy ChoiDepartment of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. sugy.choi@nyulangone.org.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed various health risks and inequities experienced by international migrant workers. The number of migrant workers in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is rapidly growing and is expected to continue growing. Health related research on migrant workers in ROK is limited, especially among undocumented migrant workers who were more vulnerable to the pandemic. This study aims to examine the experiences of migrant workers and their knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies during the pandemic.

methodsWe used data from the International Migrant Workers' COVID-19 Health Literacy and Access to Medical Care project, a cross-sectional survey conducted with international migrant workers residing in ROK in 2021 (n = 537). Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models were employed to understand different demographic, occupational, and immigration factors affecting migrant workers' knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies.

resultsUndocumented migrant workers had a longer length of residence in ROK and earned less compared to workers with work visa status. None of the undocumented migrant workers had access to health insurance since they were ineligible to enroll in the national health insurance scheme. In the early days of the pandemic, most undocumented migrant workers experienced a decrease in their average income. After adjusting for demographic differences and language proficiency, undocumented migrant workers (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.78) were less likely to be aware of the policy allowing foreigners, including undocumented individuals, to access COVID-19 testing and treatment without the risk of deportation. Workers with a longer length of residence (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.53) were more likely to be aware of this policy.

conclusionUndocumented migrant workers were often less informed about COVID-19 policies. While most of the survey respondents were knowledgeable about governmental policies regarding COVID-19 treatment and immigration, our results reveal multiple occupational and health insurance vulnerabilities of undocumented migrant workers living in ROK. More attention is needed to understand healthcare service barriers and how to provide adequate resources for this vulnerable population.

Indexed as

COVID-19Emigration and ImmigrationHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeTransients and MigrantsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansMaleMiddle AgedRepublic of KoreaUndocumented ImmigrantsYoung AdultCOVID-19 pandemicHealth insuranceHealth policyInternational migrant workersUndocumented migrant workers

Identifiers

PMID39605001
PMCPMC11603880

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.