Migrant Women In China Research Articles

The prevalence of preterm and low birth weight infants among migrant women in the Pearl River Delta region, China: a population-based birth cohort study

BackgroundThe existing literature evaluating the association between neonatal morbidity and migrant status presents contradictory results. The purpose of this study was to compare the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) among newborns from local and migrant women in China’s Pearl River Delta (PRD) region.MethodsIn this observational population-based study, we included all live singleton deliveries from PRD region local women and migrant women. Data were sourced from the Guangdong Medical Birth Registry Information System between Jan 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2020. Women were categorized into three groups by maternal migrant status: local women from PRD region, migrant women from Guangdong province or from other provinces. The outcome variables that were examined included two adverse birth outcomes: PTB and LBW. The association between the risk of PTB and LBW and maternal migrant status was assessed using logistic regression.ResultsDuring 2014–2020, 5,219,133 single live deliveries were recorded, corresponding 13.22% to local women and the rest to migrant women coming from Guangdong (53.51%) and other provinces (33.26%). PTB prevalence was highest among local women (5.79%), followed by migrant women from Guangdong (5.29%), and the lowest among migrants from other provinces (4.95%). This association did not change after including maternal age, infant sex, delivery mode, and birth season in the models. Compared to local women, migrant women from other provinces had a lower risk of LBW (4.00% vs. 4.98%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of PTB and LBW was higher among local women than migrants. The odds of delivery PTB and LBW were higher for women who were age ≥ 35. Among the three maternal migration groups, the age-LBW association displayed a typical U-shaped pattern, with those in the youngest (16–24 years) and oldest (≥ 35) age categories exhibiting the higher odds of delivering a LBW neonate. With respect to infant sex, the prevalence of PTB was significantly higher in males than females among the three maternal migration groups. An opposite trend was found for LBW, and the prevalence of LBW was higher in females among the three maternal migration groups.ConclusionThe findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the epidemiology of PTB and LBW among migrant women. Our study suggests that it is the health and robust nature of migrant mothers that predisposes them to better birth outcomes. It is important to recognize that the results of this study, while supportive of the healthy migrant effect, cannot be considered definitive without some exploration of motivation for moving and changes in lifestyle postmigration.

The doubly disadvantaged: The motherhood penalty for internal migrants in China

AbstractObjectiveThis study examines hourly earnings differentials among internal migrants in urban China according to motherhood status and child coresidence. It also contemplates the potential mediation of family support and flexible work arrangements.BackgroundExisting research has primarily studied the general population of working mothers, most of whom co‐reside with their children and enjoy access to childcare support from local institutions. Our knowledge remains limited regarding international and internal migrant mothers, a large and vulnerable group that often suffers institutional segregation. Moreover, some migrant mothers leave children behind, while others do not; this fact helps us transcend the dichotomous mother/non‐mother distinction to better understand the nuances between theoretical explanations of motherhood status (being a mother) and childcare obligation effects that are otherwise intertwined in the general population.MethodThis study analyzed a representative sample of 41,996 internal married migrant women in China in 2015. Propensity score weighting methods were used to account for potential selection based on a rich set of confounders. Structural equation models were applied for mediation analysis.ResultsInternal migrant mothers in China are disadvantaged in hourly earnings, particularly those who live with their children. Living with the spouse or parents (‐in‐law) does not mediate the motherhood penalty, but working part‐time and self‐employment do.ConclusionThis study reveals an additional disadvantage for migrant mothers apart from the well‐known difficulties that confront Chinese internal migrants because of institutional segregation. These doubly disadvantaged mothers deserve public attention and policy interventions to attain a family‐friendly employment environment.

Where is my home? Sense of home among rural migrant women in contemporary China

In the context of changing patterns in migration and migrant population, the concept of ‘home’ for migrants has broadened, extending to multiple dimensions and scales. While working and living in Chinese cities, rural migrant women face both institutional and individual gender discrimination under Confucian ideology and patriarchal culture. Meanwhile, in contemporary China, a series of changes in context, including education massification, cultural modernisation and the improvement in women’s socioeconomic status, have transformed the thoughts and behaviours of rural migrant women, leading to their diversified construction of a home. Based on in-depth face-to-face interviews and employing ‘critical geographies of home’, this study explores rural migrant women’s sense of home in contemporary China at multiple scales and in urban destinations and rural origins. The study reveals that rural migrant women in China create various forms of intimacies in their daily lives and negotiate the power relations embedded in Confucian ideology to build their lived and desired ‘home’ at multiple scales. The ‘soft’ environment and material objects contribute to their sense of home across the boundaries of urban and rural areas. Overall, the study underscores that rural migrant women’s unstable and fragile ‘home’ reflects their plight in contemporary urban China. Nevertheless, cities provide an important platform for some migrant women to escape from persistent gender discrimination in rural areas and develop a sense of home based on independence, equal gender norms, respect from locals, and engagement in urban life.

Rural Migrant Women’s Informal Learning of Life Skills in Social Networks in Urban China

Life skill programs have been widely provided for vulnerable women in Third World Countries but not for the deprived rural migrant women in China. This study explored the way these women informally learned life skills in urban China and their primary sources of learning, in hopes of providing insights into possible life skill programs targeting them. A basic interpretive qualitative research was conducted by interviewing seventeen migrant women in Northwest and Central China. Findings show that these women learned certain core life skills informally as they adjusted to the urban life. They regarded rural migrant social networks as the main source of learning. Yet, their aspirations to acquire better communication and occupational skills remained mostly unfulfilled and a few of them demanded extra emotional support. This study strongly suggests life skill programs provided for rural migrant women in China to enhance their capability for self-protection, empowerment and social integration.

Does China's universal two-child policy affect contraceptive use among internal migrant women in China? Evidence based on panel data

ObjectiveIn 2016, China implemented the universal two-child policy to increase the birth rate. This study aimed to explore the effect of the policy on the contraception use and the type of contraception used by internal migrant women in China. Study DesignThis study used Guangdong Province data from 4 rounds of the cross-sectional China Migrants Dynamic Survey, that is, 2 rounds before (2014 and 2015) and 2 rounds after (2016 and 2017) the universal two-child policy. Migrant women aged 20 to 49 years were categorized into 3 groups according to the number of their children (0, 1, 2 or more). Multilevel logistic regression models based on inverse probability weighted data were used to examine the effect of the policy on contraceptive use. ResultsWe included 16,438 migrant women in this study. Of these, 88.8% and 79.7% used contraception before and after the policy, respectively, while the proportion of participants using short-acting reversible contraception or other traditional contraceptive methods increased from 34.6% to 40.6%. Among migrant women with children, the policy reduced contraception use prevalence (one-child group: AOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.3–0.4; two-or-more-children group: AOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.7). ConclusionChina's 2016 two child policy produced a modest reduction in contraceptive use among migrant women with only one child. ImplicationsAdditional measures, such as child care, education and housing reforms, are needed to meaningfully increase the Chinese birth rate.

Inequalities in Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Between Chinese Migrant Women and Local Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction:Uptake of cervical cancer screening services in Chinese migrant workers is unknown and may be lower than non-migrant workers in China.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study among migrant and non-migrant women aged 21-65 at 7 provinces across China and administered a questionnaire investigating knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccine. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate odds of previous cervical cancer screening in migrant workers.Results:737 women participated in the study. Mean age was 41.9 ± 7.2 years. 50.2% of the participants were migrant workers. 27.6% of the migrant workers reported previous cervical cancer screening compared to 33.2% of local participants. 36.6% migrant workers reported awareness of HPV compared to 40.2% of local participants. In adjusted analysis migrant status was not associated with increased odds of previous cervical cancer screening (aOR = 1.11 95%CI: 0.76-1.60). High school or higher education compared to less than high school education and employer-sponsored insurance compared to uninsured were associated with increased odds of previous cervical cancer screening (aOR = 2.15 95%CI: 1.41-3.27 and aOR = 1.67 95% CI: 1.14-2.45, respectively). Having heard of HPV compared to no awareness of HPV was associated with increased odds of cervical cancer screening (aOR = 2.02 95%CI: 1.41-2.91). Awareness of HPV among migrant workers was associated with increased odds of cervical cancer screening compared to migrant and local participants without awareness (aOR = 2.82 95% CI: 1.70-4.69 and 2.97 95%CI: 1.51-5.83, respectively).Conclusions:Efforts to increase education opportunities, provide insurance, and promote HPV awareness could increase cervical cancer screening uptake in migrant women in China.

Contraception and abortion among migrant women in Changzhou, China

Objectives Migrant women in China’s industrial cities face particular contraceptive challenges, which have changed in recent years as family planning policy has shifted. Little is known about recent trends in contraception and abortion among China’s large internal migrant population. We conducted a survey to examine these issues among factory workers in a large Chinese city. Methods Married migrant women (N = 801) aged 20–39 years and working in Changzhou, China, completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire giving details about their sociodemographic background, work and migration situations, and reproductive health. Results Current contraceptive use was reported by 86.6% of women. Condoms, which have largely replaced longer acting contraceptive methods in this population in recent years, were being used by 54.9% of contraceptive users. Only 41.2% used a longer acting method, mostly an intrauterine device (IUD). A lifetime history of abortion was reported by 40.4%. In the past year, 5.5% had had an unintended pregnancy and 5.2% had had an induced abortion. Older age, lower level of education, lower income, area of origin and husband’s residency were associated with IUD use. Lower income, husband’s residency and stronger fertility desire were associated with recent unintended pregnancy. Conclusion The results of the study provide evidence that migrant women in China are relying more than ever on less effective methods of contraception. Unintended pregnancy and abortion are common. China’s current informed choice model needs to be improved with the provision of better health education before and after migration and easy access to health and reproductive health care services.

Son Preference and the Reproductive Behavior of Rural-Urban Migrant Women of Childbearing Age in China: Empirical Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Data.

Son preference has been shown to influence the childbearing behavior of women, especially in China. Existing research has largely focused on this issue using cross-sectional data of urban or rural populations in China, while evidence from the rural-urban migrant women is relatively limited. Based on the data of China Migrants Dynamic Survey in 2015, we used logistic regression models to explore the relationship of son preference and reproductive behavior of rural-urban migrant women in China. The results show that the son preference of migrant women is still strong, which leads women with only daughters to have significantly higher possibility of having another child and results in a higher imbalance in the sex ratio with higher parity. Migrant women giving birth to a son is a protective factor against having a second child compared to women whose first child was a girl. Similarly, the effects of the gender of the previous child on women’s progression from having two to three children showed the same result that is consistent with a preference for sons. These findings have implications for future public strategies to mitigate the son preference among migrant women and the imbalance in the sex ratio at birth.

Changes in the Prevalence of Induced Abortion in the Floating Population in Major Cities of China 2007-2014.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the changes in induced abortion in different migrant groups in China between 2007 and 2014 and the contraceptive methods used prior to induced abortion. Methods: The studies of two population-based cross sections were conducted in urban China, involving 9146 sexually active migrant women. Within the selected sociodemographic subgroups, the changes in the percentage of women who had induced abortions, the proportion of pregnancies ending in induced abortions, the causes of induced abortions, and the methods of contraception were identified. A chi-squared test was used to calculate the differences in induced abortion in the subgroups. Results: Between 2007 and 2014, in the study groups from the major cities of China, the percentage of sexually active migrant women who had induced abortions increased 10.1%, from 21.8% to 24.0%. The proportion of pregnancies ending in induced abortions increased 23.7%, from 21.5% to 26.6%. Both of the aforementioned statistics increased significantly within most of the selected sociodemographic subgroups, especially in the 18–19 and 45–49 age groups. Over 50% of pregnancies were aborted in the cohabiting group, although this figure declined by 12.3% over the course of the seven-year study period. Contraceptive failure was the primary cause of induced abortion, although its contribution to induced abortion declined from 51.3% to 42.4%. The proportion of women not using contraception prior to induced abortion increased from 30.9% to 41.2%. Conclusion: The prevalence of induced abortion is high and continues to increase among sexually active migrant women in China. An increasing trend is forecasted over the next few decades. Special attention should be paid to the younger cohort of migrant women, especially 18–19-year-olds, and unmarried cohabitants, who are increasingly seeking induced abortions.

Prenatal care among rural to urban migrant women in China

BackgroundThere is a very large population of internal migrants in China, and the majority of migrant women are of childbearing age. Little is known about their utilization of prenatal care and factors that influence this. We examined this using data from a large national survey of migrants.Methods5372 married rural to urban migrant women aged 20–34 who were included in the 2014 National Dynamic Monitoring Survey on Migrants and who delivered a baby within the previous two years were studied. We examined demographic and migration experience predictors of prenatal care in the first trimester and of adequate prenatal visits.Results12.6% of migrant women reported no examination in the first trimester and 27.6% had less than 5 prenatal visits during their latest pregnancy. Multivariate analysis indicated that demographic predictors of delayed and inadequate care included lower educational level, lower income and not having childbearing insurance. Migrating before pregnancy, longer time since migration, having migrated a greater distance, and not returning to their home town for delivery were correlated with better prenatal care.ConclusionsMany internal migrant women in China do not receive adequate prenatal care. While internal migration before pregnancy seems to promote adequate prenatal care, it also creates barriers to receiving care. Strategies to improve prenatal care utilization include expanding access to childbearing insurance and timely education for women before and after they migrate.

Mobility patterns and associated factors among pregnant internal migrant women in China: a cross-sectional study from a National Monitoring Survey

BackgroundResidential instability during pregnancy has been linked to poor health outcomes. As a first step toward providing better health care to pregnant migrant women, the size and characteristics of this population and factors associated with mobility during pregnancy should be studied.MethodsUsing the “Monitoring Data of Chinese Migrants” for 2012, from the Chinese National Population and Family Planning Commission, this study explored mobility patterns during pregnancy and associated factors among migrants within China. From a library of 158,556 participants, two subsamples were selected. Percentages, with chi-squared tests, and means and standard deviations, with ANOVAs, were adopted to describe mobility patterns during pregnancy (always staying in sending area, mainly staying in sending area, mainly staying in receiving area, and always staying in receiving area) and delivery location choice. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associated factors.ResultsWe found that the percentage of migrants always or mainly staying in receiving areas during pregnancy rose from nearly 40% in 1985 to more than 80% in 2012, while the percentage of migrants who were mobile between receiving and sending areas during pregnancy fluctuated between 30 and 40% before 1995, and between 40 and 45% after 1995, decreasing to around 40% after 2008. The percentage of respondents who chose to deliver in receiving areas fluctuated but increased from 10% in 1985 to more than 50% in 2011. Among respondents who had delivered during the last year of the survey period, families with older pregnant women (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.05–1.13), their own housing (OR = 5.66, 95% CI 2.45–13.05), longer time in the receiving area (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.20), and strong will to integrate (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.15–1.51) always stayed in the receiving area during pregnancy, rather than the sending area, and families with broadly similar characteristics were inclined to choose the receiving area for their delivery.ConclusionsThe mobility patterns of pregnant migrant women in China have been changing in recent years, with the percentage of them staying in receiving areas during pregnancy and delivering there increasing. Individual and family characteristics were also associated with mobility patterns and delivery location choice.

Effects of preconception counseling on maternal health care of migrant women in China: a community-based, cross-sectional survey.

BackgroundMigrants have long been a disadvantaged group in China’s health care system, especially in terms of maternal health care. Many studies have explored the factors associated with a lack of maternal health care and found many determinants, including social, economic, behavioral, and environmental factors. However, studies focusing on factors associated with maternal health care have rarely examined preconception counseling (PCC). This study explored factors related to PCC uptake among migrant women, and investigated the association between PCC and maternal health care in migrant women.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2011, in Nanhai, Guangdong Province, and Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 1,012 migrant women who had their most recent pregnancy within 1 year of the survey answered a standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire about maternal health care. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the data.ResultsOnly 208 (20.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.1–23.1%) of 1,012 migrant women had received PCC. Younger age, having more than one child, lack of knowledge of maternal health care and inter-province migration were predictors of a lack of PCC. PCC was associated with higher consumption of folic acid supplements during the preconception period (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.66–4.23). Among migrants who were resident in Nanhai or Pinghu for less than 5 years, PCC was related to better quality prenatal care (AOR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.79–5.24).ConclusionsThe prevalence of PCC among migrant women was low (20.6%, 95% CI: 18.1–23.1%). Positive associations were found between the receipt of PCC and preconception folic acid supplements and quality prenatal care. Future studies focusing on maternal health care should pay attention to PCC and explore the effects of PCC on maternal health care through intervention studies. Continued efforts to increase PCC in migrants should target specific age groups (20–24 years), families with more than one child, and women who have migrated between provinces, as well as provide in-depth knowledge of maternal health care.

English

The goal of the present study was to assess knowledge and attitudes related to HIV/AIDS among the migrant female workers in the restaurant industry in Guangzhou City, China. We performed a questionnaire survey using a judgmental sampling method in the health examination clinic of Yuexiu District of Guangzhou during March 2011. A total of 428 participants completed and returned the questionnaires and data were analysed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, and Wilcoxon test. Of 428 respondents, the average score of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge was 19.6 (full marks, 26). Knowledge on HIV/AIDS among respondents was classified as poor for 8.2%, fair for 42.5%, and good for 49.3%. The average score of AIDS-related attitudes of respondents was 7.2 (full marks, 10). Most of the respondents (88.8%) had relatively positive attitudes toward AIDS. Unmarried status, ages less than 30 years old and higher levels of education had higher scores of knowledge. Among the respondents who had sex experiences, 57.7% (130/225) reported that they never or only some of the time used condom. The young, unmarried women had significantly higher proportion of condom use than those above 30 years old, and/or married ones. Overall, a half of respondents had only moderate and low levels of awareness about HIV/AIDS knowledge, although most of them had tolerant and positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. In addition, a relatively lower rate of condom use was reported. The findings indicate that there exists broad space for improvement of knowledge and behaviours toward HIV/AIDS for migrant women in China.

Maternal deaths among rural-urban migrants in China: a case-control study.

BackgroundDisparity in maternal mortality exists between rural–urban migrant and urban resident women in China, but little research has provided evidence for related policy development. The objective of this study was to identify associations with and risks for maternal death among rural–urban migrant women in order to improve health services for migrant women and reduce maternal mortality in China.MethodsWe conducted a prospective case–control study in urban areas of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and Beijing municipality. In each, migrant women who died between July 1, 2010 and October 1, 2011 were identified through reports from China’s Maternal and Child Mortality Surveillance System. For each, four matched controls were selected from migrant women who delivered in local hospitals during the same period. We compared socio-demographic characteristics, health status and health service variables between cases and controls, and used bivariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses to determine associations with and risk factors for maternal death.Results109 cases and 436 controls were assessed. Family income <2000 yuan per month (OR = 4.5; 95% CI 1.7-11.7) and lack of health insurance (OR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6) were more common amongst women who died, as were lack of antenatal care (ANC) (OR = 22.3; 95% CI 4.3-116.0) and attending ANC only 1–4 times (OR = 5.0; 95% CI 1.6-15.5). Knowledge of danger signs during delivery was less common in this group (OR = 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.8).ConclusionDifferences existed between migrant women who died in pregnancy and surviving controls. The identified risk factors suggest strategies for health sector and community action on reducing maternal mortality among migrant women in China. A systematic approach to maternity care for rural–urban migrant women is recommended.

North Korean Women's Narratives of Migration: Challenging Hegemonic Discourses of Trafficking and Geopolitics

This article recovers the subaltern stories of North Korean migrant women living and working underground in China. This work begins to unravel relations of power operating through hegemonic discourses of human trafficking. International human rights agencies and the U.S. government often make totalizing statements that categorize North Korean migrant women in China without authorization as trafficked: powerless victims without agency who need to be rescued with the assistance of international society. Based on in-depth interviews with North Korean migrants and extensive document analysis, however, I argue that the strategic spotlight on North Korean human trafficking has actually worsened the condition of North Koreans in China by leading to more crackdowns by both North Korean and Chinese authorities who consider those international efforts as political intervention and threats to their national security. In addition, current discourses on North Korean human trafficking are grounded in Western liberal discourses of the universality of human rights. As a result, trafficking discourses and policies ignore the complicated nature of global political and economic structures that shape women's basic economic security and their decision to migrate. Through critical examination of contemporary geopolitics, this article shows the urgency of democratic and decolonized ways of understanding the trafficking of North Korean women and of offering them support.

Perceived Discrimination and Smoking Among Rural-to-Urban Migrant Women in China

Smoking may be a coping mechanism for psychosocial stress caused by discrimination. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of rural-to-urban migrant women working as restaurant/hotel workers (RHWs) and those working as sex workers (FSWs) in 10 Chinese cities to investigate whether perceived discrimination is associated with smoking. We interviewed RHWs at medical examination clinics and FSWs at entertainment venues. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios. Of the 1,696 RHWs and 532 FSWs enrolled, 155 (9.1%) and 63 (11.8%) reported perceived discrimination, respectively. Perceived discrimination was independently associated with ever tried smoking (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-2.23) and current smoking (PR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.32-4.79) among RHWs and ever tried smoking (PR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.16-1.61) and current smoking (PR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.28-2.06) among FSWs. Perceived discrimination is associated with higher prevalence of smoking among rural-to-urban migrant women in China.

Friends or foes? Social enterprise and women organizing in migrant communities of China

This article examines the application of the social enterprise model of poverty reduction and empowerment in the context of community organization among migrant women in China. In recent years, the social enterprise model has been portrayed as one of the most viable strategies in providing innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. However, scepticism remains as to whether the business model is compatible with NGO and social work practice models. The author applies an entangled social logic approach in analysing the everyday practices of community workers and mainstay service users in reacting to the introduction of the business model in transforming women's groups into quasi-social enterprises. Evidence for analysis is collected through two cases studies of NGOs in China. Finally, broader theoretical and methodological issues of the synergy or tensions between the social enterprise model and NGO or social work practice models are discussed.

Smoking among Young Rural to Urban Migrant Women in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey

BackgroundRural-to-urban migrant women may be vulnerable to smoking initiation as they are newly exposed to risk factors in the urban environment. We sought to identify correlates of smoking among rural-to-urban migrant women in China.Methods/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional survey of rural-to-urban migrant women working in restaurants and hotels (RHW) and those working as commercial sex workers (CSW) was conducted in ten provincial capital cities in China. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify correlates of smoking. We enrolled 2229 rural-to-urban migrant women (1697 RHWs aged 18–24 years and 532 CSWs aged 18–30 years). Of these, 18.4% RHWs and 58.3% CSWs reported ever tried smoking and 3.2% RHWs and 41.9% CSWs reported current smoking. Participants who first tried smoking after moving to the city were more likely to be current smokers compared to participants who first tried smoking before moving to the city (25.3% vs. 13.8% among RHWs, p = 0.02; 83.6% vs. 58.6% among CSWs, p = <0.01). Adjusting for other factors, “tried female cigarette brands” had the strongest association with current smoking (OR 5.69, 95%CI 3.44 to 9.41) among participants who had ever tried smoking.Conclusions/SignificanceExposure to female cigarette brands may increase the susceptibility to smoking among rural-to-urban migrant women. Smoke-free policies and increased taxes may be effective in preventing rural-to-urban migrant women from smoking initiation.

Childhood sexual abuse and sexual risks among young rural-to-urban migrant women in Beijing, China

Background. Child sexual abuse (CSA) has substantial impact on women. The current study aims to explore the patterns of CSA in migrant women in China. Moreover, a relationship between experience of CSA and increased sexual risks was also examined among this vulnerable population. Methods. A final sample of 478 rural-to-urban migrant women was recruited from different work places in two urban districts of Beijing, China. Results. About 17% (n=80) of migrant women reported ever experienced any kind of CSA before 16 years of age. Participants who had multiple sexual partners, drank before sex and had early age of sexual debut reported higher rate of overall CSA (45.7% vs. 23%, p<0.01; 41.2% vs. 24%, p<0.05; and 47.8% vs. 24.4%, p<0.05) and contact CSA (37.1% vs. 15.6%, p<0.01; 32.4% vs. 16.8%, p<0.05; and 39.1% vs. 17%, p<0.05) compared to their counterparts. The multivariate analysis confirmed the results of bivariate analysis that a history of CSA was associated with increased sexual risks in adulthood. Conclusion. The current study suggests that health-related prevention intervention programs (i.e., HIV-related sexual risks prevention intervention) targeting the migrant women population needs to take in consideration the possible experience of CSA. Moreover, effective school-based or community-based CSA prevention intervention should be conducted to reduce CSA rate and improve attention to CSA issues in rural communities in China.