Internal migration and health outcomes of migrants: evidence from Nigeria’s Internal Migration Survey

Olufemi Adetutu, Obafemi Awolowo University
Sunday A. Adedini, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of the Witwatersrand
Akanni I. Akinyemi, Obafemi Awolowo University
Halilu Pai, National Population Commission, Nigeria

Extant studies have established a link between migration and a number of poor health outcomes. However, due to paucity of migration data in Nigeria, evidence is sparse on the effect of migration on health outcomes of migrants. This study thus takes the advantage of Internal Migration Survey data (2010) implemented by the National Population Commission, to examine the implication that migration disruption has for health outcomes of internal migrants. Based on the disruption theory of migration, we hypothesized that current migrants (those who recently moved) are likely to have health challenges in their host communities. Using discrete time event history analysis on a sample of 11276 migrants, findings showed that recent movers had elevated hazards of morbidity episodes, including malaria, Hepatitis and STIs (HR:4.40, CI: 3.97-4.89, p<0.001) compared to long-term migrants. These findings reveal the challenges faced by current migrants due to reduced social support arising from migration disruption.