Mediated health across the South China Sea: Understanding marginalization in influenza-and avian influenza-related health promotion campaign messages for Filipino household service workers in Hong Kong

• Main Author: Bernadas, Jan Michael Alexandre C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Foreign workers, Filipino > Hong Kong; Household employees > Philippines; Communication in medicine; Health Communication
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/12993
• Institution: De La Salle University

While the consequences of international labor migration on the health of temporary and low-skilled workers have gained programmatic attention, these are often overlooked in health media scholarship. Situated against structural critique of health promotion (Nettleton & Bunton, 1995) and a culture-centered approach (Dutta, 2007), this article interrogates presentation of health of Filipino household service workers (FHSWs) in health promotion campaign messages circulated by the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). To provide evidence, it focuses on influenza- and Avian influenza-related messages found in pamphlets, posters, and fact sheets. Textual analysis reveals four problematic assumptions made in these materials. First, health promotion campaign messages reinforce the taken-for-granted value of vaccination. Second, they assume that FHSWs have sufficient access to quality food and rest. Third, they assume that FHSWs have the resources to avail of the prescribed prevention services. Fourth, health promotion campaign messages assume that FHSWs have adequate access to healthcare services. Instead of promoting an inclusive public health agenda, influenza-and Avian influenza-related health promotion campaign messages have reproduced marginalization of FHSWs in HKSAR. Policy implications to living arrangements and work conditions are highlighted.