The Migration Experience and Differential Risks to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Ghana

Abstract

<jats:p> Background. Though internal migration in Ghana has become increasingly common in recent years, research has not focused on the gendered experiences and perceptions of migration and the association with sexual and reproductive health risks for male and female migrants. Method. A qualitative study using semistructured interviews among migrant market workers and market leaders working in Agbogbloshie in Accra, Ghana, was completed in April 2018. Interview domains for the migrant interviews included the following: expectations of migration, current working and living conditions, sexual and reproductive health, access to health care, and self-reported health status. Qualitative data were analyzed using a combination of inductive and deductive coding in MAXQDA. Results. Data indicate that migrant workers have a variety of perceptions surrounding their migration experience. In the urban destination, migrants face a number of challenges that negatively affect their health, including poor accommodation, safety concerns, and low levels of social support. Reported risks to sexual and reproductive health were unsafe sexual encounters, such as low condom use and sexual assault. Discussion. The negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes among migrant populations in urban poor settings are a result of a confluence of factors, including perceptions of destination locations, working and living conditions, social support, and gender norms. A complex systems approach to understanding the sexual health of migrants is warranted. Conclusion. Findings from this research illustrate the complexity of health risks among migrants in Agbogbloshie. Further research is needed to explore the increased vulnerability of migrants compared with nonmigrants in urban poverty and the long-term implications of sexual and reproductive health risks in vulnerable migrant communities. </jats:p>

Acceder a los servicios de salud: la mirada de migrantes del Chocó a Medellín

“…Al interior de los servicios de salud reconocen barreras asociadas al color de su piel y barreras por dilación de autorización para procedimientos. En concordancia con esta investigación, Sznajder et al (2020) identificaron que los migrantes se enfrentan a una serie de desafíos que afectan negativamente su salud.…”

Rural-Urban Migration, Childbearing Decision-Making, Fertility and Contraceptive Perspectives of Street Adolescents and Youth in Kampala, Uganda

“…It is also possible that street youth are uncertain to make personal decisions to have children due to their increased level of economic vulnerability and the cyclic migrations which sometimes may be challenging. It could be reasoned that the risks associated with migration process such as sexual violence and marital partner separation during movement ( 31 , 48 , 49 ), may negatively impact their wellbeing including their ability to make childbearing choices as having more children may be perceived a burden.…”

“…Rural-urban migrants were defined as street adolescents and youth who migrated from other districts and regions of Uganda to Kampala capital city, irrespective of their reason for migration. Elsewhere in the African region, migrants have been found to face challenges that negatively affect their health, including poor accommodation and social safety, and low levels of social support in urban destination communities, and hence a complex systems approach to understanding the sexual health of migrants is warranted ( 31 ). Rural-urban migrant street youth who reported having had more than one repeat or return migrations between the city and district of origin were further classified as circular migrants.…”

Rural-Urban Migration, Childbearing Decision-Making, Fertility and Contraceptive Perspectives of Street Adolescents and Youth in Kampala, Uganda

“…Relatedly, street adolescents and youth who experienced a problem or challenges during the migration process were less likely to make personal decisions regarding childbearing. Some of the risks or challenges associated with the migration process are well documented and include frequent cooccurrence of sexual risks such as sexual violence with physical, emotional and socio-economic forms of violence and sexual assault (31)(32) (33). While the reason for this nding may be unclear, it is possible that a person who has gone through an unpleasant situation such as sexual health risks during the migration process may nd it di cult to make personal childbearing decisions as having childbearing may be perceived as an additional burden.…”