Opportunities and challenges in access to healthcare for international migrants with work-related diseases and injuries in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A systematic literature review protocol
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Introduction
International labor migrants are crucial to the global workforce in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which host over 11.7% of the world’s migrant workforce, posing significant healthcare challenges. This systematic review aims to evaluate whether international migrants in GCC countries have effective access to healthcare for work-related diseases and injuries and to propose evidence-based recommendations for policy and healthcare interventions.
Methods
This review will include studies from 2013 to 2023 published in peer-reviewed journals in English or Arabic (with English abstracts) available on PubMed, Embase and CINAHL. We focus on healthcare access for work-related diseases and injuries among international migrants in GCC countries. Search strategies are developed using MeSH terms and key terms related to our study population (international immigrants), context (the GCC countries), and exposure (migrant status; work-related diseases and injuries). The screening process involves two stages: initial review of titles/abstracts and full-text review. Studies meeting eligibility criteria and focus on our outcome (access to healthcare) will be included. Data extraction will cover study characteristics, population demographics, described exposures, outcomes measured, and key findings. Given the expected heterogeneity, we will primarily use a narrative synthesis approach, with meta-analysis as an optional method.
Discussion
Our systematic review aims to assess how GCC countries manage healthcare access for international migrants. By considering both migrant workers and expatriate professionals, we provide a culturally tailored perspective. Methodological rigor is ensured through the gold standard screening process, where at least two reviewers independently screen the literature at each stage, with a senior reviewer resolving discrepancies. Our review will identify barriers and facilitators, informing targeted interventions for policymakers. Ultimately, our findings will support evidence-based strategies to improve healthcare access for international migrants’ in GCC countries.
Systematic review registration
This systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024532851) on April 21, 2024.
