Self-Care &
Health Care:
How migrant women in the Greater Mekong Subregion
take care of their health
Presented by
Me k ong Mig ra tio n Ne two rk (MMN)
S
Overview: Why do we do this research?
S Migrants often pay out much more than nationals of their health cost,
for instance in Cambodia hospitals often charge foreigner double.
S
In GMS countries’s healthcare system require healthcare user pay a
percentage of their health cost themselves i.e. Myanmar 80%, Thailand
14%, Vietnam 56%, China 35%.
S Investment in Health systems is low.
S Myanmay spent 2% of GDP on health care, 3 physicians per 10,000
people. 2.8% of GDP in Lao dedicated on health care and 1.9 physicians
per 10,000 people. Thailand is the main destination country in the region,
however, health care expenditure is 4.1 % of GDP, and 3 physicians per
10,000 people.(UNDP, 2014).
S For many migrant women, formal health care facilities are a last
resort.
S “How do migrant women take care of themselves?”
How Migrant Women Take Care of
Themselves?
“We don’t get
information because
we don’t go out, and
we don’t know
anybody.”
Burmese returnee
who worked as a
domestic worker in
Thailand
“I was afraid to go to
doctors as I was
undocumented, and I
also didn’t know how
to find a doctor in
any case.”
Cambodian returnee
who worked in
Thailand
What factors affecting migrant
women’s health rights?
Migrant women Self-Care
S
Documentation: fear of
arrest/detention/deportation, no
original copy of ID card/work permit
S
Information on Health: source of
information, access to education,
inadequate health information and
care at pre-departure training
Isolation: workplace location, restricted
movement, communication ability
S
Language: explaining health
conditions/symptoms to health care
providers, specific vocabulary
S
Time: long working hours, day
off/sick leave, housework
S
S
Money: lower wages/under
minimum wages, household
expenses, remittance or migration
broker’s fee
Complicated procedures, long
queues/waiting times in hospitals and
cost
S
Discrimination
S
Workplace Policies: documentation
S
S
Living and working condition:
sanitation insufficient,
stress/nerves from long arduous
work, isolated living and working
places,.
Access to Doctors and Hospital
Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues
Migrant Women face in the GMS
S Contraceptives: methods-ease of use, price, relationship with her sex
partner.
S Abortion (unplanned pregnancy): unsafe methods, unsafe, unregistered
and unhygenic clinics, legal abortion
S Pregnancy & Birth: forced sterilisation, possible risk of home births,
access antenatal care
S HIV/AIDS: testing, confidential, treatment, HIV and AIDS education
S Other Sexually Transmitted Infection: treatment, STI information
S Gender – Based Violence (GBV): mental and physical health, sexual
abuse by family members or employers
Policies VS Gaps
on Migrants Health Care in the GMS
S Limited access: specific who or
S Social Security
S Health Insurance
S Labour Laws
S Policies and systems for
Departing Migrants
what illnesses are covered.
Informal sector and undocumented
migrants often are excluded
S No long – term policy relevant to
migrant health, and both
healthcare and immigration policy
change often
S Mental health and sexual and
reproductive health, as well as
preventive health care are often
unavailable.
S HIV/AIDS care remains
inadequate such as referral system
full antiretroviral therapy (ART)
Recommendations
S Ensure universal access to comprehensive, affordable, quality,
gender-sensitive health services at all stages and across all
locations, in part by removing discriminatory policies, to achieve
the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health;
S Enhance cooperation and integration between government and
NGO services;
S Provide information on health, health services, rights and policies
relevant to migrant women;
S Promote and enforce proper compliance of maternity and sick
leave policies;
S Provide information to support migrant women’s self-care
practices
Mekong Migration Network (MMN) is a subregional network of 39 of the
CSOs and research institutes in the GMS working for the promotion of the
welfare, well-being, dignity and human rights of migrants in the GMS.
www.mekongmigration.org
Thank You!