Psychiatric mobility among repatriated Nepalese foreign labor migrants-a hospital based study.

Abstract

Introduction: International migration for employment has burgeoned in Nepal in the recent decade, and now it is an important factor of social transformation across most societies all over the country. Various factor associated with migration and working in a foreign land can affect mental health of migrating individuals. The purpose of the study was to explore psychiatric morbidity among repatriated Nepalese foreign labor migrants who visited psychiatric services at a tertiary level hospital in Kathmandu.

Methods: Repatriated Nepalese foreign labor migrants (n=51) having symptoms of mental illness at a foreign country, visiting psychiatric services at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital were enrolled in the study. A self- designed semi structured proforma was devised to obtain the socio- demographic characteristics of the study population and diagnosis was made using International Classification of Disease-10- Diagnostic criteria for research (ICD-10 DCR).

Results: The age range of the repatriated population was 21-45 years. Most of the cases were males (n=46) and only five were female. Majority of the subjects were literate but only 27.45% had education level above secondary level. Greater number of respondents worked in the gulf countries (66.66%) followed by Asian countries (25.49%). The most common psychiatric morbidity among repatriated Nepalese foreign labor migrant was depressive disorders (29.41%) followed by Anxiety disorder (25.49%).

Conclusion: There is a growing need to enhance our understanding about psychiatry co morbidity among repatriated Nepalese migrant workers so as to promote mental well-being at their working foreign country. A wide range of psychiatry morbidity, predominantly depression and anxiety was found among them which if addressed timely would prevent many migrant workers from returning back prematurely.