Demographic and Socioeconomic Variables Associated With Health Care–Seeking Behavior Among Foreign Workers in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Osman, Ahmad Farid, Abdul Mutalib, Muzalwana, Tafran, Khaled, Tumin, Makmor, Chong, Chin Sieng
• Format: Article
• Published: SAGE Publications 2020
• Subjects: HC Economic History and Conditions; HD Industries. Land use. Labor
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/25443/; https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539519893801

Foreign workers in Malaysia face various barriers in accessing health care, which results in many of them being unable to obtain appropriate medical treatment in case of sickness. This study investigates the foreign workers’ health care–seeking behavior and the demographic and socioeconomic variables that influence it. Data were collected from 502 foreign workers using a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the influence of demographic and socioeconomic variables on health care–seeking behavior among foreign workers. In cases of severe sickness, 20.5% of foreign workers stated that they will not go or are unlikely to go to a clinic or hospital. The multiple logistic regression revealed that foreign workers’ tendency to avoid medical treatment is associated with gender, marital status, monthly income, preferred language of communication, and work classification. Nonetheless, in cases of mild sickness, demographic and socioeconomic variables do not influence foreign workers’ health care–seeking behavior. © 2020 APJPH.