ArticleBMC public health2026
Men's labour migration and attitudes towards women's sexual autonomy: evidence from the National Family Health Survey 2019-21.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundMale labour migration is common across India and often results in extended periods of spousal separation. This absence changes who holds responsibility and decision-making power at home, and can reshape traditional gender roles and women's autonomy. Sexual autonomy, a woman's ability to control her own body, negotiate safe sex, and make her own reproductive choices, is one part of this shift. Because separation changes spousal dynamics, it can also create different expectations around this autonomy. Our study looks at how male labour migration relates to men's own perceptions of women's sexual autonomy. DATA &
methodsWe use data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). The sample includes women aged 15-49 and men aged 15-54. After excluding non-working respondents, the final sample is 82,598 individuals. Migration status is defined as an employment-related absence from the place of residence for at least one month, classified as short-term or long-term migration. We use binary logistic regression to examine the link between migration status and men's perceptions of women's sexual autonomy, adjusting for relevant socioeconomic and demographic factors.
resultsOur study finds that 15.3% of men were temporary migrants (8.9% short-term, 6.4% long-term), confirming migration as a major livelihood strategy in India. In unadjusted models, both short- and long-term migrants, along with men who reported substance use, were significantly more likely to hold negative attitudes toward women's sexual autonomy. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the odds of holding negative attitudes were significantly lower among middle-aged men (45-54 years), men from the Scheduled Castes, and men with higher education.
conclusionMigration status has a significant role to play in the male perspective on the sexual autonomy of women. Both short- and long-term labour migrants are more likely than non-migrants to hold negative attitudes toward women's sexual autonomy. Our findings point to the need for targeted social and behavioural interventions aimed specifically at younger male migrants who are engaged in substance abuse.
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