IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i21p7807-d434431.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Occupational Health of Female Immigrant Caregivers: A Qualitative Approach

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/7807/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/7807/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Qian Wu & Yuko Yamaguchi & Chieko Greiner, 2022. "Factors Related to Mental Health of Foreign Care Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andrés M. Murillo-Pedrozo & Eliana Martínez-Herrera & Elena Ronda-Pérez & Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez, 2021. "A Qualitative Study of the Health Perceptions in the Venezuelan Immigrant Population in Medellín (Colombia) and Its Conditioning Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Jennifer Tartaglia & Michelle McIntosh & Jonine Jancey & Jane Scott & Andrea Begley, 2021. "Exploring Feeding Practices and Food Literacy in Parents with Young Children from Disadvantaged Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Şahika Simsek-Cetinkaya & Simge Evrenol Ocal, 2023. "“Psychological Injuries Are Not Visible†: Experiences and Perceptions of Midwives and Nurses about Domestic Violence during Pregnancy," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 32(8), pages 1115-1123, November.
    4. Silvia Scaramuzzi & Sara Gabellini & Giovanni Belletti & Andrea Marescotti, 2021. "Agrobiodiversity-Oriented Food Systems between Public Policies and Private Action: A Socio-Ecological Model for Sustainable Territorial Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-32, November.
    5. Tongyu Meng & Jamie Newth & Christine Woods, 2022. "Ethical Sensemaking in Impact Investing: Reasons and Motives in the Chinese Renewable Energy Sector," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(4), pages 1091-1117, September.
    6. Annette Peart & Virginia Lewis & Chris Barton & Grant Russell, 2020. "Healthcare professionals providing care coordination to people living with multimorbidity: An interpretative phenomenological analysis," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(13-14), pages 2317-2328, July.
    7. Francisco Díaz Bretones & Aditya Jain & Stavroula Leka & Pedro A. García-López, 2020. "Psychosocial Working Conditions and Well-Being of Migrant Workers in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, April.
    8. Soo-Yong Shin & Eun-Ju Lim, 2021. "Clinical Work and Life of Mid-Career Male Nurses: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, June.
    9. Fatoumata Fofana & Pat Bazeley & Antoine Regnault, 2020. "Applying a mixed methods design to test saturation for qualitative data in health outcomes research," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(6), pages 1-12, June.
    10. Daniela Argento & Özgün Imre & Michael Johansson & Kari Rönkkö, 2025. "Facing sustainable city challenges: the quest for attra-chment," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 31-43, March.
    11. Nuchjarin Intalar & Yasushi Ueki & Chawalit Jeenanunta, 2024. "Enhancing Competitiveness: Driving and Facilitating Factors for Industry 4.0 Adoption in Thai Manufacturing," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, August.
    12. Thomas Dax & Oliver Tamme, 2023. "Attractive Landscape Features as Drivers for Sustainable Mountain Tourism Experiences," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-16, June.
    13. Dimitrios Gouglas & Kendall Hoyt & Elizabeth Peacocke & Aristidis Kaloudis & Trygve Ottersen & John-Arne Røttingen, 2019. "Setting Strategic Objectives for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations: An Exploratory Decision Analysis Process," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(6), pages 430-446, November.
    14. Simon Jean-Baptiste Combes & Nathalie Simonnot & Fabienne Azzedine & Abdessamad Aznague & Pierre Chauvin, 2019. "Self-Perceived Health among Migrants Seen in Médecins du Monde Free Clinics in Europe: Impact of Length of Stay and Wealth of Country of Origin on Migrants’ Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Matthys, Marie-Luise & Acharya, Sushant & Khatri, Sanjaya, 2021. "“Before cardamom, we used to face hardship”: Analyzing agricultural commercialization effects in Nepal through a local concept of the Good Life," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    16. Radomska Joanna & Hajdas Monika & Wołczek Przemysław & Glinka Beata, 2023. "Wide open? Creative industries and open strategizing challenges," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 59(2), pages 117-136, June.
    17. Stephanie W. Lee & Jing Xu & Tai-Ming Wut & Yui-Yip Lau & Joseph H. L. Chan & Tin-Shing Liu & Louis W. Y. Mok & Jason K. Y. Chan, 2024. "Aging in Place in Hong Kong and Its Implications for Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Needs, Beliefs, Behaviors, and Well-Being of Older Adults through Self-Determination The," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    18. Shailaja Tetali & Sureshkumar Kamalakannan & Shilpa Sadanand & Melissa Glenda Lewis & Sara Varughese & Annie Hans & G. V. S. Murthy, 2022. "Evaluation of the Impact of the First Wave of COVID-19 and Associated Lockdown Restrictions on Persons with Disabilities in 14 States of India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.
    19. Habib, Muhammad Danish & Attri, Rekha & Salam, Mohammad Asif & Yaqub, Muhammad Zafar, 2025. "Retail consumers' conundrum: An in-depth qualitative study navigating the motivations and aversion of chatbots," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    20. John R. Blakeman & Wendy M. Woith & Kim S. Astroth & Sheryl H. Jenkins & Stephen J. Stapleton, 2020. "A qualitative exploration of prodromal myocardial infarction fatigue experienced by women," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(19-20), pages 3882-3895, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:7807-:d:434431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.