Internal migration and maternal health service utilisation in Jiangsu, China

OBJECTIVES To investigate the use of maternal health care services by internal migrants in view of their migration status. METHODS Cross-sectional household survey in two cities of Jiangsu Province. Questions elicited data on socioeconomic information and MHC service use (pre-natal examination, post-natal visit, pre-natal health education). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with MHC service use. RESULTS A total of 946 married women were recruited, of whom 22.3% were internal migrants. Compared to local residents, migrants were five times less likely to attend pre-natal examinations (84.4% vs. 91.7%; OR = 0.49, P = 0.002), three times less likely to have post-natal visits (15.6% vs. 50.2%; OR = 0.18, P < 0.001) and less likely to attend health education during pregnancy (87.0% vs. 95.7%; OR = 0.30, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression also revealed a lower proportion of MHC use among migrants (ORm 0.52, 0.16, and 0.3, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Internal migrants in Jiangsu Province underuse MHC services to a significant degree. More attention needs to be paid to pregnant migrant women, as they are vulnerable group in society.