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The Occupational Health of Female Immigrant Caregivers: A Qualitative Approach

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  • Rocío de Diego-Cordero

    (Research Group CTS 969 Innovation in HealthCare and Social Determinants of Health, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain)

  • Juan Vega-Escaño

    (Research Group CTS 1054 Interventions and Health Care, Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross Nursing School, University of Seville, 41009 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Lorena Tarriño-Concejero

    (Research Group PAIDI-CTS 1050 Complex Care, Chronicity and Health Outcomes, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain)

  • María Ángeles García-Carpintero-Muñoz

    (Research Group PAIDI-CTS 1050 Complex Care, Chronicity and Health Outcomes, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain)

Abstract

In general, immigrants suffer poor working conditions. This is particularly true in the case of women, who constitute 48% of international migrants, and these poor conditions are closely linked to the sectors they mainly occupy, such as domestic and care-giving services. The aim of the present study was to investigate the working conditions of the female immigrant population living in southern Spain and how these conditions may affect their health. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and discussion groups was conducted over one year in 2019, with 61 immigrant women recruited. The sectors occupied by immigrant women were caregiving for dependent people and domestic services. Most of the female immigrants interviewed were working (63.94%), although the majority were employed in an irregular situation, with a very long working day. Among the main risks identified were biological risks, physical attacks, falls, wounds and musculoskeletal complaints related to handling patients and carrying out household chores. Most of them had not taken an occupational health test and did not report accidents occurring in the workplace for fear of losing their jobs. The main health problems were related to physical and mental health (such as musculoskeletal diseases and stress). These findings highlight the importance of making a major change in our perspective regarding the social value of including immigrant women in the labour market and the different aspects related to their health.

Suggested Citation

  • Rocío de Diego-Cordero & Juan Vega-Escaño & Lorena Tarriño-Concejero & María Ángeles García-Carpintero-Muñoz, 2020. "The Occupational Health of Female Immigrant Caregivers: A Qualitative Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:7807-:d:434431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agudelo-Suárez, Andrés & Gil-González, Diana & Ronda-Pérez, Elena & Porthé, Victoria & Paramio-Pérez, Gema & García, Ana M. & Garí, Aitana, 2009. "Discrimination, work and health in immigrant populations in Spain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(10), pages 1866-1874, May.
    2. Benjamin Saunders & Julius Sim & Tom Kingstone & Shula Baker & Jackie Waterfield & Bernadette Bartlam & Heather Burroughs & Clare Jinks, 2018. "Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1893-1907, July.
    3. Cecilia Arici & Elena Ronda-Pérez & Tishad Tamhid & Katsiaryna Absekava & Stefano Porru, 2019. "Occupational Health and Safety of Immigrant Workers in Italy and Spain: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-32, November.
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