European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 160, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 60-65

Sexual and reproductive health status and related knowledge among female migrant workers in Guangzhou, China: A cross-sectional survey (Article)

Lu C. , Xu L. , Wu J. , Wang Z.* , Decat P. , Zhang W.-H. , Chen Y. , Moyer E. , Wu S. , Minkauskiene M. , Van Braeckel D. , Temmerman M.
  • a School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhongshan 2 Road, No.74, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
  • b School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhongshan 2 Road, No.74, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
  • c School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhongshan 2 Road, No.74, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
  • d School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhongshan 2 Road, No.74, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
  • e International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
  • f International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
  • g National Research Institution for Family Planning, China
  • h Amsterdam School for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • i Donghua Research Institute of Reproductive Health in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China
  • j Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania
  • k International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
  • l International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the current sexual and reproductive health (SRH) status including SRH-related knowledge and associated factors, self-reported symptoms of reproductive tract infection (RTI), medical assistance seeking behavior, sexual experience and contraceptive use, reproductive information approach and reproductive service utilization among female migrant workers in Huangpu district, Guangzhou city, China. Study design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 in eight factories, which were selected randomly from 32 eligible factories in the Huangpu district in Guangzhou. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the SRH status of migrant workers. Factors associated with the level of SRH knowledge were determined by a logistic regression model. Results: Of 1346 female migrant workers, 831(61.7%) were unmarried and 515 (38.3%) were married. 27.2% of the unmarried respondents and 40.2% of the married respondents had suffered self-reported RTI symptoms. Among unmarried respondents, the median knowledge score was 5 points, compared to 8 points for the married. For unmarried migrant workers, factors associated with the knowledge level were age, education level, access to SRH information and service, sexual experiences and RTI symptoms. For married migrant workers, factors associated with the knowledge level were age, education level, access to SRH services and RTI symptoms. Conclusions: A high prevalence of self-reported RTI symptoms and a low knowledge level were found among young female migrant workers. Unmarried migrant workers are more vulnerable to SRH problems. Those findings demand more specific interventions targeting female migrants and in particular the unmarried. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

female migrant worker Knowledge level sexual and reproductive health

Index Keywords

China educational status female genital tract tumor sexual behavior human controlled study priority journal health status female worker vagina discharge lower abdominal pain marriage vagina bleeding migrant worker social status cross-sectional study non menstrual vaginal bleeding sexual and reproductive health status vulva pruritus female professional knowledge Contraception sexual health Article health care utilization help seeking behavior major clinical study adult age Reproductive Health dyspareunia genital ulcer female genital tract infection health care delivery health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84855837311&doi=10.1016%2fj.ejogrb.2011.10.001&partnerID=40&md5=d5757347418e7de4f52da4281cd650fd
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.10.001
ISSN: 03012115
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English