Risk of kidney health among returnee Nepali migrant workers: A survey of nephrologists

Authors

  • Nirmal Aryal Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Midwifery and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4835-0785
  • Arun Sedhain Nephrologist, Department of Medicine, Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2590-9096
  • Pramod R Regmi Senior Lecturer in International Health, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom; Visiting Research Fellow, Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Visiting Fellow, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-3894
  • Radheshyam Krishna KC Migration Health Officer, International Organization for Migration, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8302-4491
  • Edwin van Teijlingen Professor of Reproductive Health Research, Department of Midwifery and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom; Visiting Professor, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur, Nepal; Visiting Professor, Nobel College, Pokhara University, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5523-8583

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i12.39027

Keywords:

Acute kidney injury, Chronic kidney disease, Glomerulonephritis, Kidney failure, Kidney health, Migrants, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Anecdotal reports suggest an increasing prevalence of kidney problems in returnee Nepali migrant workers from the Gulf countries and Malaysia.

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to (a) explore the magnitude of the kidney health-related problems in returnee Nepali migrant workers; and, (b) assess the need for further scientific investigations.

Materials and Methods: This was a self-administered survey of practicing nephrologists in Nepal. All 51 nephrologists working in Nepal (at the time of this study) were approached by email for anonymous participation using an online survey platform. Data were collected between December 2019 and February 2020. Descriptive statistics were generated for data analysis.

Results: A total of 38 nephrologists completed the survey. Almost all their migrant patients were: younger than 40 years, males, from rural areas of Nepal, and had worked in Gulf countries or Malaysia. Most (92.1%) of the respondents reported that the causes behind kidney-related problems of returnee migrant workers were of unknown etiology and less likely to be linked to traditional risk factors. Chronic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis were the most common kidney health-related problems. The vast majority of respondents (76.3%) thought that the returnee migrant workers are at a higher risk of kidney-related problems than the general Nepali population.

Conclusion: Nepali labor migrants in the countries of the Gulf and Malaysia could be at a higher risk of kidney health-related problems than the general Nepali population. Further rigorous scientific investigation is warranted to examine the kidney-health-related risk of Nepali migrant workers.

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Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

Aryal, N., Sedhain, A., Regmi, P. R., KC, R. K. ., & van Teijlingen, E. (2021). Risk of kidney health among returnee Nepali migrant workers: A survey of nephrologists. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 12(12), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i12.39027

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 12 (2021)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences

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