Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40082860›Full record

ArticleBMC medical ethics2025

"No, it is not a breach of my oath because it is beyond my control; I use the policies that are in place." Ethical challenges faced by healthcare workers in the provision of healthcare to cross-border migrants in Botswana.

Galekgatlhe Bailey Balekang, Treasa Galvin, Daniel Serai Rakgoasi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical ethics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

3 authors.

Galekgatlhe Bailey BalekangFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Population Studies, University of Botswana, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone, Plot 4475, 0022, Botswana. balekang@gmail.com.
Treasa GalvinFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Population Studies, University of Botswana, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone, Plot 4475, 0022, Botswana.
Daniel Serai RakgoasiFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Population Studies, University of Botswana, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone, Plot 4475, 0022, Botswana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith a growing global population of migrants, understanding the complex dynamics between healthcare providers and policy restrictions is crucial for ensuring equitable access to healthcare. The main objective of this qualitative study was to explore the ethical challenges faced by health care providers in the provision of health care to migrants.

methodsWe conducted in -depth interviews with 11 healthcare providers, which were analysed using thematic analyse. Atlas ti software was used to analysis the data.

resultsHealthcare workers reported facing ethical challenges as a result of not being able to provide medical care to migrant patients because healthcare policies deny them access to healthcare. These policies make it difficult for healthcare professionals to fulfil their duties in accordance with their oath. Failure to provide healthcare to migrant patients can cause moral distress for healthcare workers and affect their well-being. Reporting migrant patients to the police was mentioned as another ethical challenge, which is a breach of confidentiality. Several healthcare providers have developed strategies to address the limitations of migrants' access to healthcare, including encouraging migrants to access healthcare from their home country and using private healthcare facilities.

conclusionsHealth policies influence the way health care providers carry out their tasks, which can either positively or negatively impact access for vulnerable migrant groups. To address the challenges faced by healthcare providers in implementing their professional ethics, inclusive policies should be introduced, and human rights and ethics training should be provided, as well as ongoing dialogue to ensure that healthcare providers fulfil their professional obligations toward all migrant patients.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health CareHealth PersonnelHealth PolicyHealth Services AccessibilityTransients and MigrantsAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelBotswanaConfidentialityFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchAccessBotswanaHealth careHealthcare workersMedical ethicsMigrantsPolicies

Identifiers

PMID40082860
PMCPMC11905562

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.