What is it about?
We searched and appraised the relevant literature on this topic and this paper gives the most up-to-date overview of the global evidence from 33 peer-reviewed publications. We found that left-behind women had increased access to healthcare due to better financial positions (via remittances) and experienced more empowerment/autonomy in the absence of their husbands. This resulted in increased (a) decision-making regarding their health and (b) freedom of mobility to seek healthcare. Remittances led to improved food and housing security, a critical wider determinant of health. However, some studies reported that in the longer term, the physical health of women who remain behind was negatively impacted. Almost all studies on mental health reported higher depressive symptoms among migrant wives compared to women co-habiting with their spouses. Left-behind women feared contracting sexually transmitted infections from their migrant partners. National and local policies should include support groups and counselling services at the local health centre for women who remain behind.
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Why is it important?
A lot of the literature is about the plight of the migrant workers themselves, often involving exploitation abroad and poor working and/or living conditions. Much less research has focused on what happens to their partners who stay in the home country.
Perspectives
This is a review of the literature has been conducted from the perspective of bringing together the best possible evidence at the time
Prof. Edwin R van Teijlingen
Bournemouth University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Impact of Men’s Labour Migration on Non-migrating Partner’s Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Qeios, July 2023, Qeios Ltd,
DOI: 10.32388/bx9wfc.2.
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