Assessment of healthcare needs in domestic helpers in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background It has been a common goal and challenge for every country to understand the healthcare needs of the population groups with the border. Domestic helpers represent a distinctive group of labour force in Hong Kong. The healthcare needs of Hong Kong’s general population might not fully represent the needs of domestic helpers as female migrant workers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to assess the healthcare needs of domestic helpers residing in Hong Kong with measures of health services and products utilization in relation to the health-related outcomes and problems encountered. Methods A survey was conducted in domestic helpers to investigate their utilization of health facilities and products in Hong Kong, the health problems encountered and strategies applied to solve these problems. Questionnaires were distributed at a Sunday information session held in May 2016 at the University of Hong Kong. A total of 132 domestic helpers completed the questionnaire for this study. Multiple response analysis was used for assessing frequencies and percentages of responses. Results The 132 respondents were mainly women (98.5%) from Philippine (99.2%). These domestic helpers utilized local health services and products as their main source of resolutions to the health problems encountered in Hong Kong. The most common reasons for domestic helpers deciding not to visit health facilities for their problems were consultation fees and lack of time. For circumstances where consulting doctors was not preferred, they tend to self-medicate. A wide range of products were used but the sources of information used in self-medication also reflected domestic helpers’ reliance on local health services. Discussion and Conclusion Domestic helpers participated in this survey shared resemblances of risk factors found in general mid-aged women and female migrant workers but their needs and health-related practices were influenced by the legal and health systems in Hong Kong. Employers might also have played an important role in affecting the domestic helpers’ choices of services and products used in treating health problems. From their utilization of health services and self-medication practices, domestic helpers in Hong Kong had their unique healthcare needs built within the local systems of Hong Kong.