Persekitaran Sosial dan Strategi untuk Mengekalkan Kesihatan dalam Kalangan Pekerja Asing Sepanjang Pandemik Covid-19

Abstract

Pekerja asing di Malaysia bersifat rentan terhadap COVID-19 atas faktor persekitaran sosial yang meningkatkan risiko jangkitan. Namun begitu, perspektif mereka yang mampu kekal bebas COVID-19 sepanjang pandemik kurang diketahui. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenalpasti faktor persekitaran sosial yang menyebabkan impak pandemik dan strategi sokongan sosial yang diterima untuk mengekalkan kesihatan dalam kalangan pekerja Nepal di Selangor dan Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Pendekatan kualitatif telah digunakan dengan temu bual separa berstruktur bersama lapan orang pekerja asing warga Nepal bebas COVID-19, serta dua orang pemimpin agama sebagai informan utama di mana kaedah pensampelan bertujuan telah digunakan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa impak psikososial berpunca daripada faktor undang-undang, iaitu Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) yang mewujudkan norma baru. Sokongan informasional dan instrumental telah membantu mereka memahami dan mempraktikkan Prosedur Kendalian Standard (SOP). Sokongan emosional dan sokongan agama juga membantu mereka menangani masalah kesihatan mental. Tuntasnya, penentu sosial kesihatan utama, iaitu konteks sosial dan komuniti yang mewujudkan kestabilan ekonomi dan penjagaan kesihatan berkualiti telah menjamin kesihatan mereka semasa pandemik. Faktor sosial perlu lebih dititikberatkan dalam kerja menangani impak pandemik demi menjaga kesihatan awam secara lestari.

Kata Kunci: COVID-19 pandemik, pekerja asing, kesihatan awam, sokongan sosial, penentu sosial kesihatan

Abstract: Foreign workers in Malaysia were vulnerable to COVID-19 due to social environment factors that increased the infection risks. Nevertheless, the perspective of COVID-19-free foreign workers regarding the issues were unknown. Therefore, the research was conducted to identify social environment factors contributing to the impacts of pandemic and perceived social support as a strategy to maintain good health among Nepali workers in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. The qualitative approach with purposive sampling method was applied. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with eight workers, and two religion leaders as key informants. The result showed that psychosocial impacts experienced were due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) as a legal factor that caused the new norm. Informational and instrumental supports helped them to understand and practice the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Emotional and religious supports were essential in coping with mental health problems. In short, social and community context as the main social determinant of health had brought about other determinants including economic stability and quality health care to ensure good health among them. Social factors have to be emphasized in the work of combating the impact of pandemic to promote sustainable public health.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, foreign workers, public health, social support, social determinant of health