Iranian Biomedical Journal

Iranian Biomedical Journal

Level of Desire to Migrate Among Students and Workers in the Health Field and the Influencing Factors in Iran

Authors
Abolfazl Bahrami
Malihe Babahaji
10.61186/ibj.25th-11th-IACRTIMSS
Abstract
Introduction: Migration, often regarded as a significant challenge or even super crisis, is a phenomenon that affects both developed and developing countries. Additionally, the migration of healthcare professionals poses a serious concern for the provision and advancement of health services in any nation. This study examined the extent of the desire to migrate among medical students and professionals in the healthcare field, as well as the factors influencing this inclination.

Search Strategy: This article presents a review study that gathered information from both domestic and international databases, including Iran Medex, SID, Magiran, Iranpsycho, and PubMed. The search utilized the keywords “Immigration”, “students”, and “health staff” from 2014 to 2024. The exclusion criteria for the study included articles that were unrelated to the research objectives and those for which the full text was not accessible, as well as review articles. Ultimately, 15 articles that were entirely relevant to the study were included and analyzed.

Results: The results of the study indicate that the desire to migrate is similar among both students and health professionals, with levels exceeding the average in both groups. Economic and occupational factors, such as low income, high workloads, and inter-disciplinary discrimination, were identified as the primary reasons for migration in this population. In contrast, social and cultural factors ranked lower in significance.

Conclusion and Discussion: Considering the significant desire among health workers and students to immigrate for visa opportunities, it is crucial to recognize that these individuals are vital defenders of public health in our country. Therefore, addressing this issue has become more important than ever, necessitating a serious, comprehensive, and long-term commitment. This situation demands special attention from decision-makers within the health sector.



Keywords
developing countries
health staff
students
Iranian Biomedical Journal
Volume 28, Special Issue-October 2024 - Serial Number 116
November and December 2024
Pages 194-194