Gladys Dzansi
Influence of Digitalization on International Migration of Nurses from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC)
Global migration is a phenomenon driven by a complex interplay of economic, geographical, political, social, and environmental factors. In 2020, international migration involved an estimated 281 million individuals, constituting 3.6% of the world's population. The advent of digitalization and the pervasive use of social media have significantly reshaped migration patterns, introducing both opportunities and challenges. While migration offers economic advantages, it also poses risks, with unethical recruitment networks often exploiting vulnerable individuals.
The migration of highly skilled professionals, particularly nurses, from Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to high-income countries is creating inequity mobility, making LMIC worse off. Notably, the International Centre on Nurse Migration (ICNM) predicts a significant shortage of health workers by 2030, with one in eight nurses being migrants. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this trend, driving even more nurses to seek opportunities abroad, often facilitated by the sharing of information through social media. However, the extent and impact of digitalization on this phenomenon remain inadequately understood. To address this gap, this research project proposes a scoping review that will thoroughly investigate the influence of social media and digital platforms on nurse migration. This research project is poised to contribute to the understanding of how digitalization influences nurse migration, with the aim of fostering the development of ethical migration policies and promoting international collaboration. These efforts are essential to address the ongoing issue of nurse shortages and ensure the well-being of healthcare systems worldwide.
Biography
Dr. Gladys Dzansi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Adult Health, University of Ghana. She graduated with PhD Nursing from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa in 2017. She is a registered nurse with over 25 years of work experience in rural and urban health settings. She is the Sandwich Coordinator for Graduate programs at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana. She is also the Chair for the Palliative Care Faculty at the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives. She teaches and supervises undergraduate and graduate students. She is an early career researcher with over 20 publications. Her research interest includes infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis), postoperative pain and recovery, maternal health, technology integration in healthcare and health staff mobility. She has a pragmatic theoretical orientation and interested in conversations around equity and fairness in migration of health staff.
