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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Beibei Lu, MB, Department of PHS & E, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, 808-955-7293, beibei_lu@hotmail.com and Walter K. Patrick, MD, PhD, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822.
The global phenomenon of urbanization evident in Asia is significantly different both in the rate and pattern of population settlements in China. Economic development zones and commercial entrepreneurship such as in Special Autonomous Regions (SAR), have skewed population compositions with respect to age and gender in newer cities and areas around established older ones. The nature of industrial activities (assembly units, textile manufacture, development of shipping and port services) have also created disproportionate flows leading to marked differences in male/female ratios. For example, in the city of Shenzhen with a population of nearly 7 million, there is a preponderance of young females (3:1); but the ratios are more even due to an excess of port workers in other areas. In Shanghai, China’s biggest metropolis, there are nearly 2 million migrant female workers. In Xianmen, on the other hand, migration is at a much lower rate contributing to a more stable migrant population.
Case studies of three Chinese cities with varying patterns of new migrant settlements based on the above characteristics are presented: 1) Free Economic Zone –Shenzhen 2) Major metropolis –Shanghai, Guangzhou 3) Medium-size city –Xianmen (1 million)
The higher rates of migration are seen to correspond with: 1) Rapid spread of infectious disease (STD's) 2) Greater prevalence of psychosocial problems including depression and female suicides. 3) Elevated morbidity and mortality of occupation related injuries. About 30% of workers are in the construction field. These changes are most marked in Shenzhen.
The high health risks for young female workers is one of the major negative side effects in this early phase of economic development.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Immigrant Women, Migrant Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: No
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.