An Analysis of Health Issues and Challenges Among Urban Migrant Population in Kerala

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Urbanisation and migration are interconnected. As per Census 2011, 31.16% of the Indian population was urban, whereas in Kerala, 47.72% of the total population was urban. A study conducted by Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation showed that there were 25 million migrant labourers in Kerala. The migrant labourers were facing various problems both health related and non health related. The objective of the study was to analyze the health problems, disease pattern, health care seeking behaviour and health care utilization amongst the urban in-migrant population of Kerala. Methods: It was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted among a sample of 1217 migrant labourers from the Ernakulam district of Kerala. The study followed a 30 cluster sampling method. Only those respondents having length of stay in Kerala at least six months were included in the study. The Crosstabs procedure forms two-way and multi-way tables and provided a variety of tests and measures of association for two-way tables. A binary logistic regression was done to outline the predictors of health seeking in facilities for migrant workers Findings: The study found that majority of migrant workers were belonged to backward communities, males married and engaged in construction work. The state of origin of the migrant workers were, West Bengal (35%), Odisha (19%), Tamil Nadu (16%), Assam (14%) and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar. Majority of the respondents had been staying in Kerala for duration between one to six years. Accidents and injuries, skin problems and Non communicable diseases were major health problems among the migrant workers. The logistic regression analysis showed possession of health insurance, monthly income, state of origin and easy connectivity to health facilities are positive predictors for health care seeking for migrant labourers. Conclusion: The present study revealed migrant workers were suffering from many illness like Accidents and injuries, NCD, skin problems etc. Improve the awareness of