Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41216213›Full record

ArticleThe Lancet regional health. Western Pacific2025

Adverse health outcomes among migrant workers and transnational families in the Asia-Pacific: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rosita Chia-Yin Lin, Karen Lau, Kathryn Mackey, Natasha Roya Matthews, Maushmi Selvamani, Morais Beatriz, Bouaddi Oumnia, Chaelin Kim, Azusa Iwamoto, Masami Fujita and 5 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. 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

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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Rosita Chia-Yin LinThe Migrant Health Research Group and the Consortium for Migrant Worker Health, The School of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Karen LauThe Migrant Health Research Group and the Consortium for Migrant Worker Health, The School of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Kathryn MackeyThe Migrant Health Research Group and the Consortium for Migrant Worker Health, The School of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Natasha Roya MatthewsEmergency Department Clinical Research Group, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Maushmi SelvamaniSchizophrenia Research Foundation India (SCARF Hospital), Chennai, India.
Morais BeatrizThe Migrant Health Research Group and the Consortium for Migrant Worker Health, The School of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Bouaddi OumniaMohammed VI International School of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, Casablanca & Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation (CM6RI), Rabat, Morocco.
Chaelin KimDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Dynamic, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Azusa IwamotoBureau of Global Health Cooperation, Japan Institute for Health Security, Tokyo, Japan.
Masami FujitaBureau of Global Health Cooperation, Japan Institute for Health Security, Tokyo, Japan.
Ursula TrummerCentre for Health and Migration, Vienna, Austria.
Tran Ngoc DangFaculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
Alena KamenshchikovaDepartment of Health, Ethics and Society, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Cathy ZimmermanDepartment of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Sally HargreavesThe Migrant Health Research Group and the Consortium for Migrant Worker Health, The School of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St George's, University of London, London, UK.

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Labour migration is a growing global phenomenon, with migrant workers known to be more likely to experience exploitative and precarious work, impacting their health. Despite hosting over 27 million international migrant workers, the Asia-Pacific region remains underrepresented in global health evidence, limiting the development of targeted, region-specific health interventions. This study aims to investigate the health status of migrant workers and their transnational families in the Asia-Pacific region. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42024528561) of primary studies published between Jan 1, 2013, and April 1, 2024. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Ovid Global Health for studies reporting work-related morbidity and mortality among international migrant workers and their transnational families in the Asia-Pacific region. A narrative synthesis identified occupational risks; a meta-analysis estimated pooled prevalence of morbidity among migrant workers and relative risks compared to local workers. Findings: Of 2877 studies identified, 54 met inclusion criteria, including 38 eligible for meta-analysis, encompassing 86,620 individuals across 17 Asia-Pacific countries. Among migrant workers (n = 64,172), 88.4% experienced occupational injuries and illnesses including work-related injuries, pesticide poisoning symptoms and respiratory diseases (n = 45,661), with 75% of migrant workers in this large dataset working in high-risk sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and services (including drivers and restaurant workers). 3.8% reported symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression (n = 1975), and 3.8% had musculoskeletal disorders (n = 1973). The pooled prevalence of at least one work-related morbidity was 37% (95% CI: 27-47; Interpretation: Migrant workers in the Asia-Pacific face substantial risks of a wide range of occupational injuries and illnesses. Although some studies support the "healthy migrant effect," this advantage clearly diminishes over time due to cumulative exposure to occupational and structural stressors. Strengthening occupational safety, regulating working hours, and improving healthcare access, are urgent priorities for countries hosting large migrant worker populations and employers of migrant workers. Funding: Ministry of Education, Taiwan; Wellcome Trust (318501/Z/24/Z and 335954/Z/25/Z); UK Medical Research Council (MR/W006677/1); UK National Health Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR209895); the 'la Caixa' Foundation (LCF/PR/SP21/52930003).

Indexed as

Asia–PacificHealth outcomeLeft-behind childrenMigrant workerTransnational family

Identifiers

PMID41216213
PMCPMC12597289

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.