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Correlates of quality of life in China rural–urban female migrate workers

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Abstract

Background

Rural–urban female migrant workers living in factories are a special majority group in the city of Shenzhen, China. These female workers came from different provinces of mainland China. The health-related issues and quality of life (QOL) of this migrator have become serious public health and social problems, which have not been well characterized. This study aimed to explore the QOL and related factors of rural–urban female migrant workers living in factories in China.

Methods

In total, 3,622 rural–urban female migrant workers completed the Health Survey Short Form (SF-36). Sociodemographic characteristics, health status and job satisfaction during the past 6 months were also collected.

Results

Subjects had an average of 2.53 ± 1.93 (median = 2.00, quartile interval = 3.00) diseases. The two-week Morbidity Rate was 21.9%, and only 14.0% of the subjects were satisfied with their current job. Compared to Chinese female norms, the participants scored lower in seven concepts domains of SF-36 (role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional and mental health). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age, education level, work duration and job satisfaction, two-week Morbidity Rate, anemia symptoms and muscular soreness proved to be significant predictors for all the 7 domains (except for physical functioning). Digestive system disease was a significant predictor in 5 out of 7 domains, while urinary system disease and gynecological disease were significant predictors in 4 out of 7 domains.

Conclusions

In general, QOL in rural–urban female migrant workers was lower than Chinese female norms. Improving their job satisfaction and controlling job-related disease appears to be critical to improving their QOL.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the work of Feiyue Chai in coordinating the study intervention, data collection and data management. Thanks to Qifen Tan, Fen Yang, Yan Yang, Jie Zhou for their kind help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prevention Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182, People’s Republic of China

    Chun-Yan Zhu, Jia-Ji Wang, Xian-Hua Fu, Zhi-Heng Zhou, Jing Zhao & Cai-Xia Wang

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  1. Chun-Yan Zhu
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  2. Jia-Ji Wang
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Correspondence to Chun-Yan Zhu.

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Zhu, CY., Wang, JJ., Fu, XH. et al. Correlates of quality of life in China rural–urban female migrate workers. Qual Life Res 21, 495–503 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9950-3

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