Language barrier affecting migrant workers healthcare - Equity Initiative

 

Southeast Asian health justice group Equity Initiative (EI) interviewed migrant workers in Malaysia and found that language is the main challenge in providing them with adequate healthcare.

The group members spoke to 13 Vietnamese migrant workers aged between 21 and 45, as well as eight health workers - half from the private sector and the other half from the government sector.

“The health workers unanimously responded that language and communication is a challenge in providing healthcare to migrant workers.

“They (health workers) generally use Malay or English to communicate. If the patient cannot understand, then they use some sign language or pictures to explain,” EI revealed.

Likewise, nine (69 percent) of the interviewed migrant workers said they have difficulties finding someone to accompany and assist them with translation when visiting a doctor.

The language problem resulted in the migrant workers being unable to:

• Fill up forms (nine - 69 percent)
• Explain health problems (eight - 61.5 percent)
• Remember doctor's advice and prescription (eight - 61.5 percent)
• Understand health worker instructions (seven - 54 percent)
  

The workers interviewed were from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Johor and Penang. Nine were factory workers and the rest worked in restaurants and shops.

It was also found that health workers generally perceive migrant workers as having low health literacy.

This is due to the migrant workers’ inability to access and understand information about medication, failing to understand the importance of follow-up treatment or keeping a record of their medical history.

While about half of the interviewed migrant workers (54 percent) do seek treatment if they are unwell, it is not clear at what stage of their illness do they seek treatment.

Common symptoms experienced by the migrant workers include:

• headache (12 - 92 percent)
• stress (eight - 61.5 percent)
• cold, fever, or flu (four - 31 percent)

To address the language barrier issue, the initiative recommended translation apps, as well as the creation of a Health Literacy Toolkit to provide relevant health information to migrant workers.

The toolkit, which is currently undergoing a design process by the same research team at EI, will include guides and resources for migrant workers to assist them in seeking healthcare in Malaysia.

It will also feature translation of foreign languages to English or Malay, and mechanisms for monitoring, recovery, medication compliance and follow-ups.

In addition, the initiative also recommended that the foreign embassies establish a support group or a hotline that migrant workers can call on health-related matters. - Mkini