Linguistic Barriers and Healthcare Accessibility Among Migrant Workers in North Bengaluru: A Systematic-Style Review

Abstract

This review examines healthcare accessibility among migrant workers, with particular attention to the role of language in shaping access, communication and continuity of care. It synthesises the 50 studies and study summaries contained in the literature review supplied for this assignment. The source literature addresses migrant health needs, healthcare-seeking behaviour, financial and occupational barriers, health-system responsiveness, maternal healthcare, social exclusion, welfare and community-based interventions. Across the studies, access is shown to be shaped by interacting dimensions including affordability, work schedules, distance, awareness, documentation, trust and institutional responsiveness. Language is identified as one factor within this wider set of barriers, particularly in the studies concerning rural migrant workers in Odisha and maternal and child healthcare among migrant women in Bengaluru. However, the supplied summaries contain limited direct evidence that isolates language as an independent determinant or quantifies its effects. The review therefore treats linguistic barriers as an important but under-examined dimension of migrant healthcare access. It concludes that accessible services require multilingual communication, culturally responsive practice, community outreach, practical support with navigation and stronger coordination between health systems and migrant communities. The review also identifies the need for focused research on language-related experiences among migrant workers in North Bengaluru.