Threats to the Reproductive Health to Filipina Migrant

Often missing in the accounts of women migrant
domestic workers are issues that relate to their health and well-being, particularly their reproductive and sexual health

Lack of Access to Information and Services

• Two out of ten domestic workers have insufficient knowledge about diseases affecting their reproductive health.7,8
• Migrants bear the burden of accessing health services. Although the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration provides health benefits
for migrant workers and their dependents, funding for these interventions comes from the contributions of OFWs. 1
• Unless otherwise stated in their contracts, health benefits are not extended to migrant workers, who are also uncovered by host country
labor and social policies.3


Reproductive Health Risks
• Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong reported
that their most common reproductive health
problems were genitor-urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and menstrual problems (such as painful, irregular menses or cessation of menstruation altogether).1
• A survey of Filipina domestic workers found that 23 out of 302 respondents had been pregnant while working overseas. Of these 23, only 11 had pre-natal care; seven had free hospitalization,
three were provided with maternity leave benefits;
and only two had post-natal care. Three of the women had miscarriages while one developed ectopic pregnancy. 9
• A significant number of domestic workers
getting pregnant and resorting to unsafe
abortion which in turn caused more complications
were also reported 1
• In a recent survey, more than 60 percent of the 102 women respopndents were maltreated while 11 percent were raped.11
TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

• Filipinos are trafficked for labor and sexual
exploitation to countries throughout the world. An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Filipino women are trafficked in addition to 60,000 to 100,000 trafficked Filipino children. Women and children are most vulnerable to trafficking, particularly for the sex trade.11
• Many Filipinos migrate voluntarily to work but are later coerced into exploitative conditions by recruitment agencies and employers who charge exorbitant fees, violate their contracts and
coerce women and girls into prostitution.18
• In a global medical study among trafficked women and girls, it was found that: 95 percent reported physical and sexual violence;
56 percent suffered post-traumatic stress
disorder; 57 percent had concurrent physical health problems and 60 percent suffered from pelvic pain, vaginal discharge and gynecological infection.

HIV/AIDS
• The Department of Health found that OFWs account for 35 percent of the total number of reported cases of HIV infection in the Philippines,
while newly reported cases of HIV went up to 42 percent.12
• Migrant workers diagnosed positive for HIV abroad are often deported immediately, unable to claim salaries and benefits from their employers
and not provided with psychosocial services.

One out of four Filipino migrant workers affected
by HIV is a woman.12 Spouses of Filipino migrant workers living in the Philippines are also at risk of contracting STIs and HIV