The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants

The link between migrants’ legal and employment status, access to health and health outcomes is widely explored in the academic literature on migration and health. However, there are few, if any, studies examining this link within African states. In this article we present survey data collected fro...

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Main Authors: Paul Asquith, Richard Neetzow, Julia von Freeden, Paul Schütze
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Western Cape 2021-10-01
Series:African Human Mobility Review
Online Access:https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/945
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author Paul Asquith
Richard Neetzow
Julia von Freeden
Paul Schütze
author_facet Paul Asquith
Richard Neetzow
Julia von Freeden
Paul Schütze
author_sort Paul Asquith
collection DOAJ
description The link between migrants’ legal and employment status, access to health and health outcomes is widely explored in the academic literature on migration and health. However, there are few, if any, studies examining this link within African states. In this article we present survey data collected from refugees and people in refugee-like situations in Kenya, regular (labor) migrants in Nigeria, and irregular migrants in South Africa to examine the link between registration status, employment or occupation status, gender, and (perceptions of) access to healthcare. A range of statistical tests and models were applied to examine the effects of these different characteristics. A consistent finding throughout the three sample countries is that access for people without any documentation is lower than different other groups, not only by means but also within the linear models. This strongly suggests that extending regularization pathways in African states, even if on a temporary basis, would be an effective policy lever to improve migrants’ access to healthcare, and by extension migrants’ health. However, the effects of employment status and gender on access to healthcare were more ambiguous, and further research in African contexts is required to clarify their impact.
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spelling doaj.art-70dacfd0ccaf4e2cba444934fcf3ce282022-12-22T02:29:01ZengUniversity of the Western CapeAfrican Human Mobility Review2411-69552410-79722021-10-017210.14426/ahmr.v7i2.945945The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrantsPaul Asquith0Richard Neetzow1Julia von Freeden2Paul Schütze3Centre for Rural Development, University of Humboldt in BerlinSLE Centre for Rural Development, University of Humboldt in BerlinCentre of Rural Development (Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung, SLE), University of Humboldt in BerlinCentre of Rural Development (Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung, SLE), University of Humboldt in Berlin The link between migrants’ legal and employment status, access to health and health outcomes is widely explored in the academic literature on migration and health. However, there are few, if any, studies examining this link within African states. In this article we present survey data collected from refugees and people in refugee-like situations in Kenya, regular (labor) migrants in Nigeria, and irregular migrants in South Africa to examine the link between registration status, employment or occupation status, gender, and (perceptions of) access to healthcare. A range of statistical tests and models were applied to examine the effects of these different characteristics. A consistent finding throughout the three sample countries is that access for people without any documentation is lower than different other groups, not only by means but also within the linear models. This strongly suggests that extending regularization pathways in African states, even if on a temporary basis, would be an effective policy lever to improve migrants’ access to healthcare, and by extension migrants’ health. However, the effects of employment status and gender on access to healthcare were more ambiguous, and further research in African contexts is required to clarify their impact. https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/945
spellingShingle Paul Asquith
Richard Neetzow
Julia von Freeden
Paul Schütze
The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants
African Human Mobility Review
title The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants
title_full The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants
title_fullStr The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants
title_full_unstemmed The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants
title_short The Link between Documentation Status, Occupation Status, and Healthcare Access for African migrants
title_sort link between documentation status occupation status and healthcare access for african migrants
url https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/945
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