Abstract:
Background: Reintegration is the least explored phase of the migration cycle. Yet, the reintegration
process has a strong influence on the socio-economic and health-related outcomes of returnee
migrant workers. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an Index of Reintegration to
assess the status of reintegration among returnee Middle-East migrant workers in the Kurunegala
District. Methods: A mixed-method consist of qualitative and quantitative approaches were followed for the tool development. In the first-phase primary pool of items was generated following a comprehensive
literature review. Further, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions were conducted
with experts, returnee migrant workers, and their family members to validate and to compliment the
developing index. In the second phase, principal component analysis was performed on the collected
dataset from a survey involving returnee Middle-East migrant workers(n=232). In the third phase, the
constructed tool was evaluated and validated using multiple methods. The tool was tested for
reliability. Results: The items and domains of the index demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability
(25items, α=0.7). The finalized tool consisted of 25 items distinguished under eight (08) factors:
economic self-sufficiency, belongingness, support networks, social adaptation, cultural acceptance,
access to health services, physical-psychological distress, etc. and explained 60.1% of the total
variance during the factor analysis. Conclusions: Reintegration Index is a reliable and valid tool to measure the status of reintegration of returnee migrant-workers. This tool could be applied for different occupational context returnees in determining socio-economic, migration-related, and health-related factors influencing their reintegration into the home-country.
Description:
Oral Presentation Abstract (OP31), 26th Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 15th – 17th July, Colombo