Association between Social Capital, Mental Health and Quality of Life among Migrant Workers in Myanmar

Introduction: During these decades, Myanmar has faced mass internal migration as a result of pull and push factors. The concepts and concerns related to Quality of Life on internal migrant workers are different from the general population. Migration gives rise to huge stresses and depression.

Methods and Materials: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,182 migrants. To assess socioeconomic status, health behaviors, mental health status, social capital, accessibility to health care services, and QOL. The Generalized Linear Mixed Model was used to determine the association between social capital, mental health and QOL after controlling the other covariates.

Result: About one third of respondents were factory workers and had low level of education. Regarding the level of good, fair and poor QOL were 26.82% (95% CI: 24.37-29.42), 71/74% (95% CI: 69.10-74.24) and 1.44% (95% CI: 0.89-2.30) respectively. Cognitive social capital (AOR=2.51, 95%CI: 1.14-5.55 p value<0.05), structural social capital (AOR= 2.14, 95%CI: 1.22-3.76, p value=0.008) and depression (AOR= 2.13, 95%CI: 1.25-3.62, p value=0.006) were associated with QOL. Not like the other studies, stress was not associated with QOL. The other factors associated with good QOL were monthly family income, living with related family members in a house and burden of medical services costs.

Discussion: Only one-fourth of internal migrant workers had good quality of life. The findings highlighted to develop policies aimed to improve QOL in order to reducing stress and depression among migrants by promoting social capital. In order to achieve the sustainable development goals, it is important to make investment on health of the migrant workers.