Relationship between physical health among preschool children and parental labour migration in Longnan

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between parental labour migration and preschool children’ s physical health in poor rural areas, and to provide a scientcfic basis for the development of children’s education and public health in poor rural areas of China.

Methods Using multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method, this study investigated the physical health of 497 preschool children in six rural kindergartens in Cheng County, Longnan City of Gansu Province.

Results The results showed poor physical health among preschool children, and two-week prevalence rate of respiratory system was 46.1%, two-week prevalence rate of diarrhea system was 14.5%. Parental out-migration significantly affects the prevalence of diarrhea in children, but not the prevalence of respiratory disease. For younger children, parental labour migration was associated with higher risk of physical health. Children’s active hand washing habits could significantly reduce the two-week prevalence of disease and associated with higher level of physical health ( OR = 1.97, 2.20).

Conclusion Preschool children’s physical health is closely related to parental labour migration. Healthy habits should be encouraged to improve physical status among those children.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 探讨贫困农村地区父母外出务工与学龄前儿童身体健康状况的关系, 为贫困农村地区的儿童教育和 公共卫生发展提供政策依据。 方法 采用多阶段分层随机整群抽样法, 抽取甘肃省陇南市成县 6 所农村幼儿园 497 名学 龄前儿童, 采用问卷调查儿童健康状况、父母外出务工等情况。 结果 中国西部农村学龄前儿童 2 周呼吸系统患病率 (46.1 %)和腹泻患病率 (14.5 %)较高, 健康状况较差; 父母外出务工情况影响儿童腹泻患病率, 但没有增加儿童两周呼吸 系统疾病的患病率; 父母外出务工时, 低龄儿童面临的身体健康风险较大; 儿童主动洗手习惯能减低儿童的 2 周患病率, 儿 童主动洗手习惯与儿童身体健康呈正相关 ( OR 值分别为 1.97, 2.20)。 结论 父母外出务工与儿童身体健康状况密切相 关, 需要加强儿童健康卫生行为的养成。