Current status of infectious diseases among migrants and non-citizens in Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.40.2.003
- Author:
Mohd Putera, N.W.S.
1
;
Azman, A.S.
2
;
Mohd Zain, S.N.
3
;
Yahaya, H.
4
;
Lewis, J.W.
5
;
Sahimin, N.
4
Author Information
1. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
3. Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4. Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5. School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 OEX, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Migrants;
Foreign workers;
Infectious diseases;
Review;
Malaysia.
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2023;40(No.2):138-151
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The mass movement of migrants to Malaysia for employment is one of the factors contributing to
the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases in this country. Despite mandatory health
screening for migrants seeking employment, prevalence records of infectious diseases amongst migrant
populations in Malaysia are still within negligible proportions. Therefore, the present review highlights
the incidence, mortality and overall status of infectious diseases amongst migrants’ populations in
Malaysia, which maybe be useful for impeding exacerbation of inequalities among them and improving
our national health system thru robust and effective emergency responses in controlling the prevalent
diseases found among these populations and maybe, Malaysian citizens too. Peer-reviewed articles from
January 2016 to December 2020 were searched through online platform including SCOPUS, PubMed,
Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Non-peer-reviewed reports and publications from ministry and
government websites including data from related agencies were also scoured from in order to ensure
that there are no cases being overlooked, as most published articles did not have migrants as the
research subjects. A total of 29 studies had been selected in the final analysis. Migrants in Malaysia
were at higher risk for tuberculosis, malaria, lymphatic filariasis, cholera, leprosy and leptospirosis.
Lymphatic filariasis was still endemic among this population while thousand cases of TB and cholera
had been reported among them due to cramp living conditions and poor sanitation in their settlements
respectively. While malaria had gradually decreased and become sporadic, the influx of migrant workers
had led to the rising of imported malaria cases. Low cases of leprosy had been recorded in Malaysia but
a significant proportion of it was contributed by migrant workers. As for leptospirosis, studies found
that there are prominent cases among migrant workers, which particularly highest within workers with
lower educational attainment. Infectious diseases are still prevalent among migrants in Malaysia due
to various interplay factors including their working sectors, country of origin, immunization status,
type of settlement, impoverished living conditions, and language and cultural barriers that impeding
access to health facilities.
- Full text:8.2023my1399.pdf
