Background: Rural-to-urban migrant workers have been increasing rapidly in China over recent decades. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) may affect health service utilization. There is a lack of data on HRQOL in relation to health service utilization in Chinese rural-to-urban migrant workers. This study was aimed to explore the influence of HRQOL on health service utilization in Chinese rural-to-urban female migrant workers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 1,438 female rural-to-urban migrant workers in Shenzhen-Dongguan economic zone, China in 2013. HRQOL was assessed by the 36-items Health Survey Short Form (SF-36). Health service utilization was measured by any physician visit over the recent two weeks and any hospitalization over the last 1-year (annual hospitalization). Clustered logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of HRQOL on health service utilization. Results: Lower scores in three HRQOL domains (bodily pain, general health, role physical) were associated with more frequent health service utilization in female rural-to-urban migrant workers. Bodily pain and general health were associated with an independent influence of 15.6% on the risk of recent two-week physician visit, while role physical and general health were associated with an independent influence of 21.2% on the risk of annual hospitalization. The independent influence of HRQOL on health service utilization was smaller than that of socio-demographic and health-related variables. Conclusions: HRQOL may have a modest influence on health service utilization in Chinese rural-to-urban female migrant workers - an underprivileged population in urban China. © 2014 Lu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

female migrant worker Chinese Health-related quality of life Health service utilization

Short Form 36 urban area rural area China Chinese hospitalization health care survey Health Care Surveys human middle aged statistics and numerical data health service Logistic Models rural health female worker Urban Health Services Urban Health Cross-Sectional Studies health quality of life Young Adult migrant worker cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent female scoring system women's health Article health care utilization adult migration utilization statistical model Transients and Migrants