A Scoping Review of the Health of East and Southeast Asian Female Marriage Migrants

J Immigr Minor Health. 2020 Feb;22(1):182-211. doi: 10.1007/s10903-019-00901-w.

Abstract

The number of female marriage migrants in East and Southeast Asia has grown significantly over the past three decades. However, little is known about the health of this population. Following Arksey and O'Malley's (Int J Soc Res Methodol 8(1):19-32, 2005) framework, a scoping review of English language research databases was used to synthesize knowledge on the health of Asian marriage migrants. This will be used to inform recommendations for health care practice and research. Fifty-five eligible studies were included and presented using five identified categories-mental health, women's health and maternal-child health, public health, general well-being, and social challenges. Overall, studies consistently document that marriage migrants experience worse health outcomes, multiple barriers to health care services, and multilevel social challenges compared with the native population in the receiving countries.

Keywords: Asia; Immigrant health; Marriage migrants; Scoping review.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Asia, Eastern / ethnology
  • Asia, Southeastern / ethnology
  • Asian People
  • Child Health
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Marriage / statistics & numerical data*
  • Mental Health / ethnology*
  • Social Environment
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Women's Health*