Preliminary communication
The Health of Female Migrants
Sonja Podgorelec
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Melita Švob
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Carmen Brčić
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Early in 1987 a research entitled “Yugoslav Women in Berlin” was conducted within the project Jugoslavische Frauen in Berlin-Wedding (dedicated to the 750th anniversary of Berlin). Its purpose was to find out about the living and working conditions of female migrants. Analysed in this paper is a part of research concerning the health condition and health problems of migrant women, as well as the social factors affecting their health. 155 women had been surveyed, and it was discovered that their health had been impaired, the percentage of impairments being uncommonly high with regard to their age levels. It was also shown that their health condition progressively deteriorated in concurrence with the length of their residence abroad. Among the conditions making female migrants' health worse are working conditions (i. e. demanding norm and great physical exertion), the amount of time spent on house chores and care for the children, the precariousness of their position, and their future prospects. Indicative is the order of illnesses that the women under survey most frequently suffered from (i. e. illnesses of the nerves, locomotive system, heart and circulatory system), because it coincides with the order of illnesses that have incurred in recent years pensions for the disabled (according to data from the Commission on Assessing Capability for Work and Disability of Workers from SR Croatia Temporarily Employed Abroad).
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
128667
URI
Publication date:
31.12.1987.
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