How Temporary Employment Relates to Community Health Services Utilization: Evidence from China Migrants Dynamic Survey

Abstract

Although community health services provide initial health counseling, nursing care, and medical diagnosis as basic social services in many countries, their equitable provision faces challenges. This study examined the relationship and underlying economic and social mechanisms between temporary employment and the utilization of community health services by China’s migrant workers. Data from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey, which included 69,524 respondents, was used to conduct a mediation analysis based on the inverse odds ratio weighting. Findings included: (a) temporary employment decreases the probability of migrant workers having a community health record and receiving community health education; (b) the notable lack of social capital among temporary migrant workers accounts for their reduced utilization of these services, whereas their economic capability and local integration appear to have little or no influence on deficiency of accessibility. These results suggest that to achieve equitable community health services in China, policymakers should concentrate on reducing social marginalization of temporary migrants, such as fostering engagement in diverse community activities and public affairs. Future research ought to evaluate the effectiveness of current policy interventions and highlight the cumulative disadvantages of temporary employment on social services.

Keywords:

• Temporary employment
• community health services
• social capital
• sense of inclusion
• economic capability

Acknowledgments

Thanks are owed to the editors and anonymous referees for their constructive feedback on earlier drafts of this article.

Disclosure statement

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Data Availability

The survey data of this study was collected by the China Healthcare Commission. The objectives of the survey, the scope of data collection and use, and the interests of the voluntary participants were communicated prior to the survey to ensure that each respondent provided informed consent. The Migrant Population Data Platform (chinaldrk.org.cn) of the China Healthcare Commission stores and provides access to the survey data. All original data is available upon request.

Notes

1 Based on the data reported by the Xinhua News Agency, available at http://www.news.cn/politics/2023-04/30/c_1129581812.htm (Accessed on October 10, 2023).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China under Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Foundation [number 21YJC840010], and Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province [number 22SHC002].

Notes on contributors

Jing Lin

Jing Lin is a lecturer in the Department of Social Work at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics. He applies demographic methods to examine how labor market policies affect social inequalities. His current research focuses on the relationship between employment relations and social service utilization.

Long Hao

Long Hao is a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate labor market institutions and industrial development. His current research explores how governments mitigate urban-rural disparities in the labor market by purchasing social services.