A Large-Scale Binational Survey of International Migrants from Rural Bangladesh

On Friday, February 1, Randall Kuhn, PhD, will present A Large-Scale Binational Survey of International Migrants from Rural Bangladesh as part of the Carolina Population Center 2018-2019 Interdisciplinary Research Seminar series.
Randall Kuhn is a demographer and sociologist focused on the social determinants of health, program evaluation, global health, immigrant health and homelessness. In Bangladesh, he leads a 35-year evaluation of the effects of randomized child and reproductive health interventions on health and socioeconomic change across generations. He also leads a binational survey of the health and well-being of guest workers and their left-behind families. His cross-national research explores the effectiveness of global health policies and the role of improvements in health as a driver of social and political change. Kuhn’s methodological expertise includes longitudinal data analysis, experimental and quasi-experimental research design, forecasting, and integrated data systems. Kuhn founded the Goal 18 campaign for inclusive UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Kuhn is hosted by Carolina Population Center Fellow Robert (Bob) Hummer. Hummer is the Howard W. Odum Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also co-PI of the Biosocial Training Program at the Carolina Population Center.

Friday, Feb 1
12-1
Carolina Square Room 2002
123 West Franklin Street
Location information is here.

PRESENTATION ABSTRACT

This study uses three rounds of survey data on respondents from the Matlab area of Bangladesh to compare the health of international migrants, interviewed in person and by phone, to that of non-migrants and internal migrants drawn from the same sample. To our knowledge, this is the largest binational panel study of migrant health yet conducted. We control for baseline conditions, account for self-selection and address the role of country of destination, return migration and duration. Results from a 2012-14 survey of migrants and non-migrants find that migrants fare better on measures of health that are reflective of self-selection (i.e. general health, smoking, positive dimensions of mental health). Migrants fare better or no worse on acute risks associated with the migration process such as mortality and injury. Yet they fare moderately worse on emerging chronic health factors such as obesity, hypertension and negative dimensions of mental health. These findings point to a model of health capital, in which migrants’ unique physical and emotional gifts are gradually eroded by the insults of the migration process. The seminar will include emerging results from a 2017-18 follow-up survey of migrants that explores the specific role of migrant recruitment, finance, social networks, occupational risk and context of integration in explaining migrant health trajectories.

Instructors: To arrange for class attendance, contact CPC at cpc@unc.edu by the Monday before the seminar

Streaming may be available and must be arranged at least one week in advance.

This seminar is part of the Carolina Population Center’s Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series.