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The Sexual and Reproductive Health Status and Needs of Filipino Women Migrant Domestic Workers

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Title: The Sexual and Reproductive Health Status and Needs of Filipino Women Migrant Domestic Workers


1
The Sexual and Reproductive Health Status and
Needs of Filipino Women Migrant Domestic Workers
  • Carolyn I. Sobritchea
  • A Study Conducted by
  • ACHIEVE with the support of UNFPA, Philippines

2
Research Context
  • 60,000 to 80,000 Filipinos go abroad annually for
    domestic work
  • Most of them (98) are females
  • They work in many countries around the world,
    mainly in Southeast and West Asia
  • Unlike other migrant workers, they are not
    effectively and appropriately protected by
    existing international, multilateral labor and
    related instruments
  • Previous studies show that they are most
    vulnerable to labor and other abuses

3
Research objectives
  • To generate baseline data about the sexuality,
    gender and reproductive health problems and
    concerns of Filipino women working abroad as
    domestic workers.
  • To recommend measures (e.g. policy, program and
    service) to respond to their SRH problems

4
Study Design
  • Survey of a representative sample of 302 female
    migrant domestic workers who were in the
    Philippines at the time of the study
  • Focus group discussions to validate the
    analytical framework, develop the survey
    instruments and validate the research findings
  • Key informant interviews

5
Analytical Framework
  • Factors that influence ARH status personal
    context prior to deployment (e.g. values,
    knowledge, attitudes, practices) nature of work
    contract and work condition
  • Other factors support groups and networks,
    access to SRH information and services abroad or
    on the jobsite

6
Findings
  • Most of the study participants have limited
    access to SRH health information and services
    both here in the Philippines and abroad
  • They have poor health-seeking behavior influenced
    by traditional constructions of feminine
    identities and norms
  • Many have serious misconceptions about the causes
    of STIs, especially HIV
  • The lack the skills in managing their fertility
  • Their work contracts and work conditions do not
    allow them to have access to SRH information and
    services

7
Personal Characteristics
  • 72 between the ages of 24-44 (reproductive age
    group)
  • More married women compared to earlier groups of
    overseas domestic workers
  • Lower educational status compared to the earlier
    groups of overseas domestic workers
  • They come from the provinces with higher rates of
    unemployment or lack of job opportunties

8
SRH problems and concerns
  • Gynecological problems (e.g. painful
    menstruation, ovarian/uterine cyst, abortion
    complication, ectopic pregnancy)
  • Unsafe abortion
  • Rape
  • Physical and emotional abuse
  • RTIs

9
Some analyses
  • Both personal and structural factors,
    interacting in complex ways, put female migrant
    domestic workers in situations that make them
    vulnerable to SRH problem
  • Traditional constructions of gender identities
    (especially notions of marital relations,
    mothering and motherhood, the sexual self,
    notions of being a breadwinner) interact in
    varied ways with the social spaces/locations
    abroad.
  • Nonetheless, there is evidence to show of
    individual and collective efforts and strategies
    to protect oneself from harm and risks.

10
Some recommendations
  • Advocate for an international covenant to
    protect and promote the human rights of migrant
    domestic workers, especially women
  • Continue efforts are ensuring state compliance
    with existing international, multilateral and
    bilateral agreements/political declarations and
    action plans
  • Strengthen capacity of civil society groups here
    and abroad to respond to the labor and SRH
    issues and concerns of female migrant domestic
    workers

11
THANK YOU!
  • Lets support the Reproductive Health Bill now
    being deliberated upon in Congress
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