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Narratives of internal migration experiences, health/well-being issues among females working as head-porters (Kayayei) in Ghana

Ahmed Bawa Kuyini (Department of Social Work, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia)
Abdulai Abukari (Faculty of Education, The British University in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Abdulai Kuyini Mohammed (Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana)
Hughlett Omris Powell (Department of Social Work, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates)

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

ISSN: 1747-9894

Article publication date: 10 December 2020

Issue publication date: 10 December 2020

296

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the internal migration experiences and health/well-being issues of 38 girls and women working as Kayayei (head-porters) in Accra, Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from seven focus group interview sessions, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results revealed the geographic, structural and family issues that promote increased migration of females to the cities. The findings betray the potential negative effects of migration on the participants’ quality of life, including accessing health services. They also suggest that the Kayayei phenomenon is a significant child protection, health/well-being concern yet to be given adequate attention in ways that consider the implications of such large internal migration of females on the overall human resource development capacities of rural communities.

Originality/value

This is an original study with data collected to explore internal rural to urban migration and its effect on health and well-being of young girls and women.

Keywords

Citation

Kuyini, A.B., Abukari, A., Mohammed, A.K. and Powell, H.O. (2020), "Narratives of internal migration experiences, health/well-being issues among females working as head-porters (Kayayei) in Ghana", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 511-525. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-07-2020-0068

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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