This study examines the impact of parental internal migration on health (physical and psychological) and well-being of children left behind, as well as its impact on the well-being of caretakers and on household socio-economic status. It was conducted in rural areas of two provinces where internal migration is most prevalent. Included in the survey are 1,456 children aged 8-15, caretakers, and responsible adults in three types of households: bothparent migrant, one-parent migrant, and non-migrant parents. It is noted that the one-parent migrant households in our study mostly refer to father-only migrant households. This study finds that the majority of children experience being apart from parents for a lengthy period, often since they were born, due to parents’ work in other provinces. The main reasons for migration of parents are economically oriented. In most cases, the mother is the primary caretaker in one-parent migrant and non-migrant households, while the maternal grandparent is usually the caretaker when both parents are absent. Almost all migrant households remain in close contact with the migrant parents.
URL : http://www.ipsr.mahidol.ac.th/ipsr/Research/CLAIM/Download/CLAIM-Report-FinalReport.pdf