Agricultural Migrants’ Health and Ability to Access Care: A Case Study in Southern Italy

Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo, Jeremy A. Pine, Giorgio Brogiato and Hans-Friedemann Kinkel
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Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Jeremy A. Pine: Independent Scholar, 10407 Berlin, Germany
Giorgio Brogiato: iNGO EMERGENCY, 20122 Milan, Italy
Hans-Friedemann Kinkel: Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: Although a large amount of research exists about migration into the European Union (EU) and the role of migrants in European society, relatively little information is available on the health status of migrants after arriving in the EU. This is particularly true in the case of the most marginalised migrants, migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, who work as itinerant laborers harvesting fruits and vegetables in southern Italy. This study analyzes demographic and health data gathered by a non-governmental organization-run primary healthcare clinic in order to understand the challenges these migrants face when trying to maintain their health. Results show that their health suffers greatly due to substandard living and working conditions, partially due to the fact that these individuals experience many barriers when trying to access care from the national health system. The health status of this population cannot improve without broad reforms to the welfare system and the agricultural sector. Government action is needed to ensure that such individuals are not denied their basic human rights and freedoms, including the right to health.

Keywords: vulnerable; agricultural labor; barriers to access; marginalized; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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