title: Defining migration and its health impact in China.
abstract: The scale and rapid expansion of urbanization resulting from socio-economic transformation in China at the beginning of the 21st century has accelerated rural-urban migration. Public health concerns from this increasing internal population mobility are now receiving attention from researchers. The health problems from internal migration pose particular demands on healthcare systems and relate to its demographic characteristics, with many younger and older people being left behind in the rural countryside. A review of literature, census, policy reports, government documents and media was undertaken to look at the classification system and health characteristics of China's internal migrants. It suggests that public health bears the consequences of political and economic decisions made elsewhere in society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: jin.mou@familymed.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.affiliation: Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: siangriffiths@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dawes
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D006801:Humans; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011634:Public Health; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014507:Urbanization
keywords: China; Health equality; Public health; Rural–urban migration