Sexual and Reproductive Health of Internal Female Migrant Workers in Asia: A Scoping Review

Internal female migrant workers (FMWs) in Asia, often employed in low-paid informal sectors, face unique vulnerabilities concerning sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Limited access to services, sociocultural taboos, and workplace discrimination contribute to adverse health outcomes.

To synthesize available evidence on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and access to SRH services among internal FMWs in Asia, and to identify gaps for future research and policy reform. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey & O'Malley's six-stage framework. A literature search across six databases - Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane Reviews and Google Scholar (2010-2024) - yielded 41 eligible studies across eight Asian countries. Inclusion criteria focused on internal FMWs aged 15 to 49 years working in informal sectors.

The findings reveal poor SRH knowledge, liberalizing sexual attitudes, and risky sexual and reproductive practices. Barriers to SRH access were cultural, structural, institutional, and interpersonal. Contraceptive use was inconsistent; high rates of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions were reported.

The review highlights the urgent need for culturally sensitive, gender-responsive SRH interventions for internal FMWs. Targeted education, employer involvement, improved policy enforcement, and stakeholder collaboration are essential to advance SRH equity in Asia.