The impact of parental migration on the health of children living separately from parents

Abstract

While the number of parents migrating to seek jobs elsewhere leaving young children in the care of others has been common, little is known about the positive or negative consequences for children. This study uses both bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine the impact of parental out-migration on the health of children left behind. Data were derived from two research projects: the Child Health and Migrant Parents in South-East Asia (CHAMPSEA), Thailand 2008 , and Migration and Health, Kanchanaburi Demographic Surveillance System (KDSS), 2007 . A total of 11,241 children in the KDSS Survey, and 1,027 children in the CHAMPSEA project, were the study population for this thesis. The study found that 14.5% of children had either one or both migrant parents in the Kanchanaburi study area. The percentage of the study children with physical health problems (incidence of illness) range from 25% to 53%, and more than a tenth of the children (13%) had poor psychological well-being. Several individual, household, and community factors were significantly associated with children's health. Multivariate analysis suggests that parental internal out-migration is independently associated with a higher likelihood of an illness (OR=1.15). For international migration of parents, no significant association was observed between current parental international migration and the health status of children living apart from parents. On the other hand, mothers' past migration experience is associated with poor psychological well-being (OR=2.04) and physical health (being overweight, OR=2.59) of children. This implies that parental out-migration and mothers' past migration experience since the child was born can actually have an impact on children's lives. This study could be the benchmark for policy makers and program planners to improve health services in Thailand for migrant families. The findings also suggest that strategies to alleviate the negative impact of parental migration as well as to maintain and enhance the well-being