Open AccessBiosocial effects of urban migration on the development of families and children in Guatemala.
Author(s) -
Barry Bogin,
Robert B. MacVean
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.71.12.1373
Subject(s) - biosocial theory , socioeconomic status , demography , urbanization , geography , psychology , population , sociology , biology , social psychology , ecology , personality
The relationship between rural to urban migration and child growth and family structure is reported in sample of 302 children from families of low socioeconomic status, living in Guatemala City. The sample was divided into three groups: 1) children of parents born outside the city, 2) children of parents born in the city, and 3) children with one migrant and one city-born parent. Children of migrants to the city were the smallest and significantly shorter than children of migrant city-born parents. Migrant parents also had the largest families; family size correlated negatively with growth in height. Growth in weight followed a pattern similar to height, but no significant differences associated with migration status were found between groups.