Factors associated with health-seeking behavior among migrant workers in Beijing, China

Abstract

BackgroundMigrant workers are a unique phenomenon in the process of China's economic transformation. The household registration system classifies them as temporary residents in cities, putting them in a vulnerable state with an unfair share of urban infrastructure and social public welfare. The amount of pressure inflicted by migrant workers in Beijing, as one of the major migration destinations, is currently at a threshold. This study was designed to assess the factors associated with health-seeking behavior and to explore feasible solutions to the obstacles migrant workers in China faced with when accessing health-care.MethodsA sample of 2,478 migrant workers in Beijing was chosen by the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews between investigators and subjects. The multilevel methodology (MLM) was used to demonstrate the independent effects of the explanatory variables on health seeking behavior in migrant workers.ResultsThe medical visitation rate of migrant workers within the past two weeks was 4.8%, which only accounted for 36.4% of those who were ill. Nearly one-third of the migrant workers chose self-medication (33.3%) or no measures (30.3%) while ill within the past two weeks. 19.7% of the sick migrants who should have been hospitalized failed to receive medical treatment within the past year. According to self-reported reasons, the high cost of health service was a significant obstacle to health-care access for 40.5% of the migrant workers who became sick. However, 94.0% of the migrant workers didn't have any insurance coverage in Beijing. The multilevel model analysis indicates that health-seeking behavior among migrants is significantly associated with their insurance coverage. Meanwhile, such factors as household monthly income per capita and working hours per day also affect the medical visitation rate of the migrant workers in Beijing.ConclusionThis study assesses the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on the migrant workers' decision to seek health care services when they fall ill, and it also indicates that the current health service system discourages migrant workers from seeking appropriate care of good quality. Relevant policies of public medical insurance and assistance program should be vigorously implemented for providing affordable health care services to the migrants. Feasible measures need to be taken to reduce the health risks associated with current hygiene practices and equity should be assured in access to health care services among migrant workers.

Propensity to Migrate and Willingness to Pay Related to Air Pollution among Different Populations in Wuhan, China

“…Families with high income are more possibly able to pay for migration. Particularly, due to the registered permanent residence policy in China, many parents may not be able to obtain not only pure air but also well education and health care though successfully migrate (Liang and Chen, 2007;Peng et al, 2010;Gong et al, 2012). Another Los Angeles Metro Region Study (Sieg et al, 2004) also confirmed our research and documented that when the application of the Clean Air Act successful reduced the smog level in certain communities, it attracted richer people living in inferior air condition to move to such area finally.…”

Being a homosexual to bisexual: Overlapping sexual risks among men who have sex with men as well as women in South Asian countries

“…A similar finding was observed in a study in China, where major reasons for such a finding could be that migrants MSM, who had sex with females, may have more varied sexual behaviors with a wider range of sexual partners among both males and females [13]. Further, a cross-sectional study among migrant MSM in Beijing revealed that MSM who were involved in bisexual behavior had a higher proportion of unsafe sex with stable female partners and were less likely to take a part in preventive behaviors [14]. Therefore, any programme and intervention to address STI/HIV vulnerability among MSM, who are bisexual, there should a strong component of their capacity building to adopt safe sexual practices in one hand and enhancing women's empowerment to assess their partner's background and behavior to reduce their own vulnerability on the other.…”

Health Consciousness, Smog Consciousness and Chinese Elderly Migrant Workers’ Preferred Retirement Place

“…A majority of our samples have the ability to buy or build their own houses in their hometown. In urban areas, most migrant workers live in rented houses on the city outskirts or in dormitory-style accommodations with public toilet facilities [51]. Houses in urban areas are generally too expensive for many migrant workers.…”