Pregnancy, childbirth and health of female labour migrants from Central Asia in Russia

Dmitry V Poletaev

doi:10.3897/popecon.5.e73815

Abstract

The research note contains an analysis of data on health, pregnancy, and childbirth experience among female labour migrants arriving in Russia from Central Asia. Empirically, the study bases on the data of three surveys conducted in 2015, 2017, and 2020. In total, the surveys contain information on 2,028 migrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan living in Russia. The analysis proves that with gradual feminization of labour migration from Central Asia, pregnancy and childbirth in a significant part of labour migrants take place in risky living conditions; the existing system of maternal health protection for migrants in Russia needs modernization. Compared to earlier studies on this topic, the survey data showed a higher proportion of female migrants who had got pregnant and gave birth in Russia along with a lower proportion of migrants who terminated pregnancy. These differences may indicate a change in the reproductive behaviour of women who come to work in Russia from the countries of Central Asia. The presented note shows the need for in-depth studies of the reproductive behaviour of labour migrants in Russia, as well as the development of national migration statistics, which should become gender sensitive.

Highlights

Intensive migration flows in the Eurasian migration system (Ivakhnyuk 2008) justify the need for medical services and healthcare programmes for foreign workers
Existing estimates of the composition of labour migrants arriving in Russia, over 75% of the total flow falls on immigrants from Central Asia (Selected indicators... 2020), which is why the author focuses on the behaviour of migrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan
These differences may indicate a change in the reproductive behaviour of women who come to work from Central Asian countries, a reorientation towards a long-term stay in Russia, the formation of families, and the birth of children in this country

Summary

Introduction

Intensive migration flows in the Eurasian migration system (Ivakhnyuk 2008) justify the need for medical services and healthcare programmes for foreign workers. One of the trends in labour migration from Central Asia to Russia is its gradual feminization We observe changes in the marital structure of female migration; in 2000– 2010, female migrants mostly entered Russia together with their husbands, but the data showed an increase in proportion of single and divorced women. Some of them come from families that had broken up as a result of labour migration, since husbands who had been away for a long time started new families and/or divorced their wives in their homeland Some of them come from families that had broken up as a result of labour migration, since husbands who had been away for a long time started new families and/or divorced their wives in their homeland (Zhenshchiny-migranty... 2011)

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Discussion

Conclusion