Psychiatric Morbidity Among Housemaids in Kuwait III: Vulnerability Factors

Muhammad Ajmal Zahid, Abdullahi Fido, Rashed Alowaish, Mohamed Abd El-Motaal Mohsen and Mohammed Abdul Razik

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2003, vol. 49, issue 2, 87-96

Abstract: Background: Housemaids are a relatively homogenous immigrant subgroup in terms of their gender; ethnic origin; and socio-cultural, educational and occupational background. Psychiatric morbidity among housemaids is two to five times higher than the native female population. Aims: To determine the possible pre-immigration risk factors for prospective psychiatric breakdown among the housemaids. Methods: The sample consisted of all the housemaids ( N = 197) hospitalised during the two-year study period. The controls comprised all the newly arrived housemaids ( N = 502). The measures obtained included demographic characteristics and previous history of physical illness, psychiatric illness, hospitalisation and family history of psychiatric disorder. Results: More than a quarter of the hospitalised group broke down within one month of their arrival. The hospitalised group had a significant excess of Sri Lankan housemaids; non-Muslims; those with less than four years of education and those with a previous history of physical illness, psychiatric illness or hospitalisation. Conclusions: A number of potential risk factors results in premature repatriation of housemaids on mental health grounds. Preventive measures involving recruitment procedures and pre-departure orientation courses are needed to minimise the expatriate failure among the housemaids.

Date: 2003
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:49:y:2003:i:2:p:87-96

DOI: 10.1177/0020764003049002002

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