The factors associated with being left-behind children in China: Multilevel analysis with nationally representative data

PLoS One. 2019 Nov 11;14(11):e0224205. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224205. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

There are 69.7 million left-behind children (LBC) in China. Using nationally representative monitoring data for migrant workers aged 15 to 59 years in China, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of LBC in each province, and to examine risk factors being left behind at both the individual and provincial level. Data on a total of 117,573 children less than 18 years of age were included in the multilevel analysis. At individual and family level, children's gender, age, family income, migration distance, parental separation, and housing condition in host cities were associated with being LBC. The average household monthly income in the host province was significantly associated with the migrant parents' arrangement to leave their children behind. Comprehensive supportive policies and strategies on schooling, housing for the migrant family in host cities might be beneficial to reduce the number of LBC in China.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • China
  • Family Separation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multilevel Analysis
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Youth fund for Humanities and Social Sciences at the Ministry of Education grant 18YJCZH165LT and Award from Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (Grant No. 15GWZK0402). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.