scholarly journals Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against diphtheria antitoxin among migrant workers in Singapore, 2016–2019

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Wei Ang ◽  
Qi Gao ◽  
Lin Cui ◽  
Aysha Farwin ◽  
Matthias Paul Han Sim Toh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Since the last local case of diphtheria in 1992, there had not been any case in Singapore until an autochthonous case was reported in 2017. This fatal diphtheria case of a migrant worker raised concerns about the potential re-emergence of locally transmitted toxigenic diphtheria in Singapore. We conducted a seroprevalence study to assess the immunity levels to diphtheria among migrant workers in Singapore. Methods Residual sera from migrant workers who hailed from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines were tested for anti-diphtheria toxoid immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. These migrant workers previously participated in a survey between 2016 and 2019 and had provided blood samples as part of the survey procedure. Results A total of 2176 migrant workers were included in the study. Their overall mean age was 27.1 years (standard deviation 5.0), range was 20–43 years. The proportion having at least basic protection against diphtheria (antitoxin titres ≥ 0.01 IU/ml) ranged from 77.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 72.8 – 82.3%) among migrant workers from Bangladesh to 96.7% (95% CI 92.5 – 98.6%) in those hailing from Malaysia. The proportion showing full protection (antitoxin titres ≥ 0.10 IU/ml) ranged from 10.1% (95% CI 6.5 – 15.4%) in Chinese workers to 23.0% (95% CI 17.1 – 30.3%) in Malaysian workers. There were no significant differences in the proportion with at least basic protection across birth cohorts, except for those from Bangladesh where the seroprevalence was significantly lower in younger migrant workers born after 1989. Conclusions The proportions having at least basic protection against diphtheria in migrant workers from five out of seven Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines) were higher than 85%, the threshold for diphtheria herd immunity. Seroprevalence surveys should be conducted periodically to assess the level of immunity against diphtheria and other vaccine preventable diseases in migrant worker population, so that appropriate interventions such as booster vaccination can be implemented proactively to prevent sporadic outbreaks.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (262) ◽  
pp. 97-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans J. Ladegaard

AbstractMany people in developing countries are faced with a dilemma. If they stay at home, their children are kept in poverty with no prospects of a better future; if they become migrant workers, they will suffer long-term separation from their families. This article focuses on one of the weakest groups in the global economy: domestic migrant workers. It draws on a corpus of more than 400 narratives recorded at a church shelter in Hong Kong and among migrant worker returnees in rural Indonesia and the Philippines. In sharing sessions, migrant women share their experiences of working for abusive employers, and the article analyses how language is used to include and exclude. The women tell how their employers construct them as “incompetent” and “stupid” because they do not speak Chinese. However, faced by repression and marginalisation, the women use their superior English language skills to get back at their employers and momentarily gain the upper hand. Drawing on ideologies of language as the theoretical concept, the article provides a discourse analysis of selected excerpts focusing on language competence and identity construction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Monica Vira Ajeng Kristanti

Southeast Asia is one of the regions that has a fairly high rate of labor migration, both as a contributor and a recipient country. However, this is not equated with strict regulations and laws. Violations of the rights of migrant workers are common in several countries. Unfortunately, ASEAN as a regional regional organization has not been able to provide targeted advocacy. The Transnational Advocacy Network (TAN) is here to provide recommendations and advocacy to migrant workers across countries. In this article, the transnational advocacy network that will be studied further is the Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW) which has been actively advocating and providing policy recommendations to five countries in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The research method used in this study is a qualitative method using secondary data. In this study, we can see how GAATW cooperates with several migrant worker unions in these countries, either by conducting research, advocating for victims, or by publishing publications aimed at the public and the government.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Florian Zeevat ◽  
Evgeni Dvortsin ◽  
Abrham Wondimu ◽  
Jan C. Wilschut ◽  
Cornelis Boersma ◽  
...  

In this study, we estimated the benefits of rotavirus vaccination for infants had the rotavirus vaccine been introduced in the Netherlands as of its market authorization in 2006. An age-structured, deterministic cohort model was developed to simulate different birth cohorts over a period of 15 years from 2006 until 2021, comparing both universal and targeted high-risk group vaccination to no vaccination. Different scenarios for the duration of protection (5 or 7 years) and herd immunity (only for universal vaccination) were analyzed. All birth cohorts together included 2.6 million infants, of which 7.9% were high-risk individuals, and an additional 13.2 million children between 1–15 years born prior to the first cohort in 2006. The costs and health outcomes associated with rotavirus vaccination were calculated per model scenario and discounted at 4% and 1.5%, respectively. Our analysis reveals that, had rotavirus vaccination been implemented in 2006, it would have prevented 356,800 (51% decrease) and 32,200 (5% decrease) cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis after universal and targeted vaccination, respectively. Over the last 15 years, this would have led to significant avoided costs and quality-adjusted life year losses for either vaccination strategy with the most favorable outcomes for universal vaccination. Clearly, an opportunity has been lost.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 238212052097719
Author(s):  
Crystal Lim ◽  
Jamie Xuelian Zhou ◽  
Natalie Liling Woong ◽  
Min Chiam ◽  
Lalit Kumar Radha Krishna

Background: With nearly 400 000 migrant workers in Singapore, many from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar, language and cultural barriers posed a great many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was especially so as majority of the COVID-19 clusters in Singapore emerged from their communal dormitories. With concerns arising as to how this minority group could be best cared for in the intensive care units, the need for medical interpreters became clear. Main: In response, the Communication and Supportive Care (CSC) workgroup at the Singapore General Hospital developed the ‘Medical Interpreters Training for ICU Conversations’ program. Led by a medical social worker-cum-ethicist and 2 palliative care physicians, twenty volunteers underwent training. The program comprised of 4 parts. Firstly, volunteers were provided with an overview of challenges within the COVID-19 isolation ICU environment. Discussed in detail were common issues between patients and families, forms of distress faced by healthcare workers, family communication modality protocols, and the sociocultural demographics of Singapore’s migrant worker population. Secondly, key practice principles and ‘Do’s/Don’ts’ in line with the ethical principles of medical interpretation identified by the California Healthcare Interpreters Association were shared. Thirdly, practical steps to consider before, during and at the end of each interpretation session were foregrounded. Lastly, a focus group discussion on the complexities of ICU cases and their attending issues was conducted. Targeted support was further provided in response to participant feedback and specific issues raised. Conclusion: As a testament to its efficacy, the program has since been extended to the general wards and the Ministry of Health in Singapore has further commissioned similar programs in various hospitals. In-depth training on the fundamentals of medical terminology, language and cultural competency should be provided to all pertinent healthcare workers and hospitals should consider hiring medical interpreters in permanent positions.


2021 ◽  

More than 150 million international migrant workers and an unknown number of internal migrant workers toil across the globe. More than workplace exposures affect migrant worker health; their health is also affected by exposures in the sociocultural milieu from which they came and in which they currently live. Although some of these migrant workers include professionals in high-status occupations such as doctors, nurses, engineers, and computer scientists, most are low skill workers employed in the most dangerous jobs in the most hazardous industries. The health of these migrant workers has been a long-term concern in public health, and this concern has increased with the rise of greater globalization, the recent growth of displaced and refugee populations that will need to enter the workforce in their new host countries, and the anticipated effects of climate change. The domain of migrant worker health is expansive, and is necessarily limited in this bibliography. This bibliography focuses on workers and not the family members who may accompany them, although other family members also may be workers. It focuses on low-skill migrant workers, rather than on professionals who migrate for work. Low-skill migrant workers are the individuals for whom health and public health are concerns. Additionally, research on the health of migrant professional workers is scant. At the same time, this bibliography attempts to place migrant worker health in a holistic context; because migrant worker health is affected by more than workplace exposures, the bibliography addresses exposures in their current sociocultural milieu. This bibliography has three major sections. The first section summarizes general resources that provide information on migrant workers, including International Agencies, Nongovernmental Organizations, Data Sources, Reference Works, and Journals. The second section addresses the characteristics of migrant workers that affect their health, including their Personal Characteristics, the Circumstances of Migration, Forced Migration, Industries which employ migrant workers, and 3-D Jobs: Dangerous, Dirty, and Demanding. The final section considers the health status of migrant workers, with discussions of Conceptual Frameworks for understanding migrant worker health, Work Organization Exposures, Environmental Exposures, Sociocultural Exposures, Health Conditions, Approaches to Improve Migrant Worker Health, and Policy/Regulations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 2411-2415
Author(s):  
Milind Abhimanyu Nisargandha ◽  
Shweta Dadarao Parwe

Migrant workers are a valuable community for developing the Indian economy; adverse effect occurs on their mental and physical health during this pandemic situation. The coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic emerged in India due to spread nationwide from China, Wuhan city, and then Spread overall, 213 Countries and Territories worldwide have been reported. The Indian Government immediately set up a lockdown and quarantined the patients in the hospital and declared that area as a contentment Zone to avoid infection transmission. In this pandemic situation, many labour workers were living with their families in metropolitan cities. The urgent demand for public transport in the migrant workers from different states in India. For reaching them to the native place. These lead to spreading the coronavirus infection and increase the cases of nCOVID-19. It concluded that public health services and transportation for the migrant worker to reach the native place from all states. A maximum number of trains were needed, rather than travel restriction aware of them regarding wearing of Mask, Handwashing, and Quarantine after travelled. It has been six months since COVID -19; many questions remain unanswered about the coronavirus and its pathology. It was clear by global authorities that countries need to plan and increase health clear awareness and facilities for the migrant workers. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asnu Fayakun Arohmi

This research examines the legal protection provided for illegal Indonesian workers in Malaysia and the obstacles to perform it. Malaysia are the largest number compared to another country in Asia in receiving migrant workers from Indonesia. In total there are 73.178 migrant workers. A large number of Indonesian migrant workers is caused by the lack of jobs vacancy in the country, so citizens look for a job abroad. The requirements to become Indonesian migrant workers are not easy, therefore many of them went abroad illegally. Illegal Indonesian workers often get inhuman treatment. Indonesian goverment should protect every citizen, even though they are illegal workers, since they are still Indonesian citizen. This paper is based on normative-empirical legal research with the data obtained from interviews, as well as from secondary sources provided in laws governing these matters, journals or from trusted sites of internet. The results of this study show that: first, the Law No. 18 of 2017 on Protection of Migrant Worker does not differentiate the protection for illegal and legal Indonesian migrant workers. Second, there are two obstacles faced by the Indonesian government: lack of data regarding the illegal Indonesian workers and lack of state budget to handle the protection of illegal Indonesian workers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. 688-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kh. MUHSEN ◽  
Y. ABOUDY ◽  
E. MENDELSON ◽  
M. S. GREEN ◽  
D. COHEN

SUMMARYWe examined the prevalence of mumps antibodies in the Israeli population in relation to mumps vaccination policy and past and subsequent incidence of disease. The levels of specific IgG antibodies against mumps were tested in 3330 residual sera collected during 1997–1998 from an age-stratified population sample. Against the background of a consistent MMR vaccination coverage of >90%, the age- and sex-adjusted seropositivity to mumps was 77·0%. No significant differences between genders were found. Seropositivity in the 10–13 years age group, born just before the introduction of the MMR vaccine, was the lowest (59%). These birth cohorts were the target of an outbreak of mumps in 2005 that occurred among high-school students and military recruits. A trend of waning immunity was observed between the first and second vaccine doses. The seroepidemiological data demonstrate that immunity levels below the herd immunity threshold, along with social mixing and crowded conditions facilitated the occurrence of mumps outbreaks. Periodical serosurveys are an essential component in the evaluation of the vaccination policy against mumps.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
Lelisari Lelisari ◽  
Imawanto Imawanto ◽  
Hamdi Hamdi

ABSTRAKUndang-Undang  No 18 tahun 2017 Tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) sangat penting dalam melindungi para PMI yang akan bekerja di Luar negeri. Dimana kita ketahui bahwa mayoritas pekerja migran berasal dari desa, namun selama ini desa nyaris tidak dilibatkan dalam pelindungan calon dan mantan pekerja migran. Padahal untuk memutuskan menjadi pekerja migran dibutuhkan kecukupan informasi dari sumber yang dapat dipertanggungjawabkan. Sejak adanya UU No 18 Tahun 2017, desa berperan dalam melindungi PMI dan keluarganya. Kegiatan pengabdian ini bertujuan memberikan pemahaman dan pengetahuan terhadap masyarakat desa Bonjeruk  dan aparat desa tentang pentingnya perlindungan terhadap PMI. Metode yang digunakan adalah sosialisasi Undang-Undang No 18 Tahun 2017 Tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia. Adapun perwakilan yang hadir dalam kegiatan ini adalah aparat desa, Kepala Dusun, calon PMI, mantan PMI, Tokoh Pemuda. Hasil dari kegiatan ini adalah aparat desa dan masyarakat mengetahui dan mendapatkan informasi yang jelas tentang  aturan yang baru mengenai perlindungan pekerja migran Indonesia. Kata kunci: sosialisasi; PMI; perlindungan. ABSTRACTLaw No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) is very important in protecting PMIs who will work abroad. Where we know that the majority of migrant workers come from villages, but so far the village has barely been involved in protecting prospective and former migrant workers. In fact, to decide to become a migrant worker requires sufficient information from an accountable source. Since the existence of Law No. 18 of 2017, villages have played a role in protecting PMI and their families. This service activity aims to provide understanding and knowledge to the Bonjeruk village community and village officials about the importance of protecting PMI. The method used is the socialization of Law No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. The representatives who attended this activity were village officials, hamlet heads, PMI candidates, former PMIs, youth leaders. The result of this activity is that village officials and the community know and get clear information about the new regulations regarding the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. Keywords: socialization; PMI; protection. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Aini ◽  
Avina Cahyaning Wahyu ◽  
Zaqqi Ubaidillah

Working as a female migrant worker has a positive and negative impact. Negative impacts include children who are left without love, this will cause children to experience intellectual, emotional and moral social problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in emotional intelligence of teenagers with the employment status of mothers as migrant workers and non-migrant workers. Method used comparative descriptive research design with cross sectional approach. Sample was 31 teenagers with mothers of migrant workers and 30 teenagers with non-migrant mothers was taken by purposive sampling technique. The study was conducted at Nurul Huda and Mambaul Ulum Islamic junior high school, and also junior high public school 1 Bantur in September 2017. The dependent variable was emotional intelligence, measured by the TEIQue-ASF questionnaire (Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Adolescent Short Form). Data analyzed by independent t test. The average value of emotional intelligence in teenager with mothers of migrant worker is 129.03, in teenager with non migrant workers is 141.53. P value (0.005) < α (0.05), meaning that there are differences in emotional intelligence in both teenagers, where in teenager with non migrant worker their emotional intelligence is higher. Parental attachments, especially mothers can influence emotional response patterns, so this will affect emotional intelligence. It is recommended to the school to monitor emotional intelligence, because it can have an impact on their social behavior and conduct direction to surrogate family members who work as migrant workers about how to educate children in their teens. Keywords : Emotional Quotient, teenager, Mother Migrant Workers, Mother Non Migrant Workers


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