RESUMEN
AIM@#This study aims to explore the reintegration experiences of returning migrant healthcare workers in the Philippines.@*BACKGROUND@#Return migration and reintegration of healthcare labor force is a relevant part of the migration process valuable in the improvement of human capital in source countries through transfer of knowledge and skills. However, this research field has received little attention in terms of policy, program, and research development. Hence, there is a paucity of information in the Philippines describing the reintegration experiences of returning migrant healthcare workers despite its maturity in health worker migration.@*METHODS@# A qualitative case study approach was utilized in this study. Initially, an online literature review of electronic databases and grey literature regarding reintegration of migrant workers in the Philippines was performed. This was followed by online in- depth interviews among purposively selected potential, current, or returning nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and caregiver health worker migrants through Zoom web conferencing platform. Government, private, and non-government institutions involved in the migration of health workers were also invited to participate in online focus group discussions and key informant interviews. An inductive content analysis using matrices was utilized to determine relevant descriptive codes, categories, and themes.@*RESULTS@#Return migration and reintegration is perceived as an uncommon phenomenon among healthcare worker migrants. Nonetheless, motivations and grounds of opting to return and reintegrate in the Philippines can mostly be due to personal reasons or entrepreneurial aspirations. Upon return, they successfully held teaching and training positions, engaged in business through specialized clinics, or established professional associations. There was largely a perceived lack of awareness of government efforts on reintegration as it was felt that services and assistance were limited. Further observed restraints to return migration include lower wages in the Philippines, lack of knowledge on financial management, paucity of skills and qualifications recognition acquired overseas in their home country, and absence of professional network support. The COVID-19 pandemic also positively or negatively influenced healthcare worker migration.@*CONCLUSION@#This study highlighted the motivations and restraints of health worker migrants in returning to reintegrate in the Philippines. The availability and deficiency in policies, programs, and services for returning migrant workers were also emphasized. In addition, the aspects and prospects of return migration and reintegration, as well as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare worker reintegration was identified. The Philippine government and other concerned agencies need to ensure a supportive environment that will foster a positively conducive reintegration experience for returning healthcare worker migrants.
Asunto(s)
Filipinas , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
RESUMO: A migração de retorno se tornou apenas recentemente objeto de pesquisas no campo da saúde mental. A experiência do migrante de retorno em sua comunidade de origem o expõe aos olhares de alteridade que apontam para a fragilidade tanto de seus ideais egóicos como daqueles partilhados com o grupo cultural, particularmente quando o retorno se faz "com as mãos abanando". Com duas vinhetas clínicas tiradas de uma pesquisa conduzida no Senegal entre 2014 e 2019, abordamos esse cenário no qual os sujeitos enfrentam vergonha, humilhação e abjeção quando retornam, ficando condenados a um espaço marginal de entre-dois migratório.
Abstract: Return migration has only recently become subject of research in the field of mental health. The experience of the returning migrant in his community of origin exposes him to the eyes of otherness that point to the fragility of both his ego ideals and those shared with the cultural group, particularly when the return is made "with empty hands". With two clinical vignettes taken from a survey conducted in Senegal between 2014 and 2019, we approach this scenario in which the subjects face shame, humiliation and abjection when they return, being condemned to a "migratory between-two" marginal space.