Assessing Barriers and Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Female Migrant Workers in Vietnam

Bibliographic Data

ID15470347
AuthorsToan Ha (0000-0002-0574-0804, University of Pittsburgh, corresponding author), David Givens (0000-0003-3765-0229, University of Pittsburgh), Hui Shi (0000-0003-2126-2520, University of Pittsburgh), Trang Nguyen (0000-0003-2616-142X, Institute of Social and Medical Studies, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam), Nam Nguyen (0000-0002-4753-7214, Institute of Social and Medical Studies, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam), Roman Shrestha (0000-0003-4340-3101, University of Connecticut), Linda Frank (University of Pittsburgh), Stephen L Schensul (0000-0002-5870-0849, University of Connecticut)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue14
Pages6368-6368
Publication date2023-07-15
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20146368
PMID37510599
OpenAlexW4384616593
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited18

Young migrant women workers frequently experience disparities in accessing health services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, especially in urban settings. This study assesses the barriers and utilization of SRH services and explores factors associated with the utilization of these services among young female migrant workers working in the industrial zone (IZ) in Vietnam. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1061 young women migrant workers working in an IZ in Hanoi, Vietnam. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with utilization of SRH services. Nearly 35% of the participants reported using SRH services at least once since working in the IZ. Additionally, around 78% of the participants reported using a contraceptive method during their last sexual encounter. The study also found that older participants (25-29 years old) were nearly two times more likely to use SRH services than younger participants (18-24 years old) (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.19-3.06). Married participants had nearly six times higher odds of using SRH services compared to single participants (OR = 5.98, 95% CI: 3.71-9.63), and participants with higher incomes were more likely to use SRH services (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04). The most commonly reported barriers to access SRH services were inconvenient hours of service operation (26.2%), followed by long distance from the service location (9.2%) and high service cost (5.2%). This study found a low level of SRH service utilization and identified several barriers to accessing these services among the study participants. The study findings provide important evidence insights for policymakers and program managers to develop and implement policies that help reduce barriers and enhance the provision of SRH services tailored to the needs of IZ married and unmarried women migrant workers in the IZ in rapidly developing and urbanizing countries like Vietnam and other low- and middle-income countries with similar contexts

Business · Economic growth · Environmental health · Health services · Logistic regression · Migrant workers · Odds ratio · Population · Reproductive health · Service (business · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Sex work and related issues · Gerontology

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