title: Influence of internal migration on reproductive health in Myanmar: results from a recent cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal and reproductive health remains a significant public health issue in Myanmar. Little data exists on women's health issues, including social and demographic influences. While past studies have demonstrated rural/urban health disparities, an increasingly important population resulting from urban growth in Myanmar is the internal migrant population, individuals moving within the country for better job or educational opportunities. Past studies suggest that women make up more than half of internal migrants, yet there is a dearth of information on this new wave of migration, particularly on women's reproductive health issues. The objective of this study is to assess the influence of women's migration in Myanmar on reproductive health outcomes, including delivering in a facility, using a skilled birth attendant, and using a modern method of family planning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a cross-sectional household survey using multistage cluster sampling design conducted between September to October 2014 was used to assess the accessibility and the use of maternal and child health products and services. A total of 1800 currently married women of reproductive age, including 348 from urban and 1452 from rural areas, were recruited to complete surveys. A set of multivariable regressions was performed to assess reproductive health outcomes and predictors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across health indicators, female migrants had better health outcomes compared to non-migrants. Controlling for demographic characteristics, migrants were 1.60 times more likely to use a modern form of family planning compared to non-migrants (p < 0.01) and use antenatal care during pregnancy (p < 0.05). While not statistically significant, migrants were 1.29 times more likely to deliver with a skilled attendant and 1.08 times more likely to deliver in a facility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that female migrants in Myanmar reported better health outcomes compared to non-migrant women in regards to family planning and maternal health. Future research should focus on monitoring the outcomes of migrants and their children over time to assess long-term impacts.
authors.affiliation: Global Health Group, Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94116, USA. May.Sudhinaraset@ucsf.edu.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA. May.Sudhinaraset@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sudhinaraset
authors.affiliation: Global Health Group, Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94116, USA. Nadia.Diamond-Smith@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diamond-Smith
authors.affiliation: Population Services International, Myanmar, No. 16, Shwe Gon Taing, Street 4, Yangon, Myanmar. mmthet@psimyanmar.org.
authors.forename: May Me
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thet
authors.affiliation: Population Services International, Myanmar, No. 16, Shwe Gon Taing, Street 4, Yangon, Myanmar. taung@psimyanmar.org.
authors.forename: Tin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult