Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy
Background: Agricultural migrant workers in rural Puglia, Italy, endure harsh living and working conditions that significantly affect their health and limit access to healthcare. This study evaluates their health status, explores systemic barriers to care, and evaluates the effectiveness of a mobile...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Annals of Global Health |
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| Online Access: | https://account.annalsofglobalhealth.org/index.php/up-j-agh/article/view/4666 |
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| author | Cesare De Virgilio Suglia Renato Laforgia Marcella Schiavone Anna Belfiore Nicole Laforgia Annalisa Saracino Giovanni Putoto Francesco Di Gennaro |
| author_facet | Cesare De Virgilio Suglia Renato Laforgia Marcella Schiavone Anna Belfiore Nicole Laforgia Annalisa Saracino Giovanni Putoto Francesco Di Gennaro |
| author_sort | Cesare De Virgilio Suglia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Agricultural migrant workers in rural Puglia, Italy, endure harsh living and working conditions that significantly affect their health and limit access to healthcare. This study evaluates their health status, explores systemic barriers to care, and evaluates the effectiveness of a mobile clinic model, identifying structural obstacles to healthcare access. Methods: Data were collected from 13,103 medical visits conducted between 2017 and 2023 by Doctors with Africa University College for Aspiring Missionary Doctors (CUAMM)’s mobile clinics operating in 12 informal settlements. Demographic, clinical, and socio‑health data from 2,537 unique patients were analyzed. Statistical methods, including multivariate regression, were employed to identify health trends and predictors of healthcare utilization. Results: The patient cohort was predominantly male (95.8%) and aged 19–45 years (83%). Work‑related musculoskeletal disorders were the most common diagnoses (27.3%), followed by respiratory infections (14.3%), dermatological conditions (12.1%), and dental problems (7.2%). Only 18% of patients had a residence permit, and 7% were registered with a general practitioner. Despite significant barriers, the average number of follow‑up visits per patient was 5.6, indicating trust in the mobile clinic model. Barriers included linguistic and cultural challenges, low health literacy, and irregular legal status. Mobile clinics provided not only primary medical care but also referrals and socio‑health guidance, effectively bridging healthcare gaps for this population. Conclusions: This study underscores the health vulnerabilities of migrant workers and the critical role of mobile clinics in addressing their needs. Integrating flexible care models with traditional systems, addressing labor exploitation, and improving living conditions are imperative. Collaborative efforts involving institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and academia are essential to ensuring equitable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare for this marginalized population—leaving no one behind. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-68e4f7ad3bb54c71a1dc30235957c76f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2214-9996 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-68e4f7ad3bb54c71a1dc30235957c76f2025-08-20T02:13:19ZengUbiquity PressAnnals of Global Health2214-99962025-03-01911171710.5334/aogh.46664666Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern ItalyCesare De Virgilio Suglia0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6941-2752Renato Laforgia1Marcella Schiavone2Anna Belfiore3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2534-5753Nicole Laforgia4Annalisa Saracino5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9558-208XGiovanni Putoto6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0256-1744Francesco Di Gennaro7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3453-5647Doctors with Africa CUAMM, BariDoctors with Africa CUAMM, BariDoctors with Africa CUAMM, BariInternal Medicine “A. Murri,” Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe‑J), Polyclinic Hospital, BariDoctors with Africa CUAMM, BariClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe‑J), University of Bari ‘A. Moro’, Polyclinic Hospital, BariOperational Research Unit, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, PaduaDoctors with Africa CUAMM, Bari; Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe‑J), University of Bari ‘A. Moro’, Polyclinic Hospital, BariBackground: Agricultural migrant workers in rural Puglia, Italy, endure harsh living and working conditions that significantly affect their health and limit access to healthcare. This study evaluates their health status, explores systemic barriers to care, and evaluates the effectiveness of a mobile clinic model, identifying structural obstacles to healthcare access. Methods: Data were collected from 13,103 medical visits conducted between 2017 and 2023 by Doctors with Africa University College for Aspiring Missionary Doctors (CUAMM)’s mobile clinics operating in 12 informal settlements. Demographic, clinical, and socio‑health data from 2,537 unique patients were analyzed. Statistical methods, including multivariate regression, were employed to identify health trends and predictors of healthcare utilization. Results: The patient cohort was predominantly male (95.8%) and aged 19–45 years (83%). Work‑related musculoskeletal disorders were the most common diagnoses (27.3%), followed by respiratory infections (14.3%), dermatological conditions (12.1%), and dental problems (7.2%). Only 18% of patients had a residence permit, and 7% were registered with a general practitioner. Despite significant barriers, the average number of follow‑up visits per patient was 5.6, indicating trust in the mobile clinic model. Barriers included linguistic and cultural challenges, low health literacy, and irregular legal status. Mobile clinics provided not only primary medical care but also referrals and socio‑health guidance, effectively bridging healthcare gaps for this population. Conclusions: This study underscores the health vulnerabilities of migrant workers and the critical role of mobile clinics in addressing their needs. Integrating flexible care models with traditional systems, addressing labor exploitation, and improving living conditions are imperative. Collaborative efforts involving institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and academia are essential to ensuring equitable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare for this marginalized population—leaving no one behind.https://account.annalsofglobalhealth.org/index.php/up-j-agh/article/view/4666migrant healthhealthcare accesssocial determinantvulnerabilitymobile clinicslabor exploitationsocial inclusiondoctors with africa cuammhealth disparitiesprimary health careinfectious diseasehealth policy |
| spellingShingle | Cesare De Virgilio Suglia Renato Laforgia Marcella Schiavone Anna Belfiore Nicole Laforgia Annalisa Saracino Giovanni Putoto Francesco Di Gennaro Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy Annals of Global Health migrant health healthcare access social determinant vulnerability mobile clinics labor exploitation social inclusion doctors with africa cuamm health disparities primary health care infectious disease health policy |
| title | Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy |
| title_full | Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy |
| title_short | Bridging Gaps in Migrant Healthcare: CUAMM’s Experience from 13,103 Visits in Southern Italy |
| title_sort | bridging gaps in migrant healthcare cuamm s experience from 13 103 visits in southern italy |
| topic | migrant health healthcare access social determinant vulnerability mobile clinics labor exploitation social inclusion doctors with africa cuamm health disparities primary health care infectious disease health policy |
| url | https://account.annalsofglobalhealth.org/index.php/up-j-agh/article/view/4666 |
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