Factors and consequences of rural-urban women migration: Evidence from Injibara Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

The overall objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute for women‟s rural-urban migration and its negative consequences in Injibara Town. Qualitative research approach was employed to describe the situation. For this purpose, both primary and secondary data sources were used. Data  were collected using questionnaire and in-depth key informant interview. A total of 20 in-depth with women migrant interviewees were conducted  using snowball sampling. Moreover, 7 key informants‟ were taken from the concerned offices and finally the study was consolidated by intensive review  of related literatures. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively through descriptive analysis. Findings of this study showed that pushing factors such  as gender based violence, poverty; low productivity, drought, and lack of land combined with urban pull factors such as better employment opportunity,  better income and urban way of  life, good working environment, and better health care have had dominant effect for women migration. This study  identified housing problems, violation of rights, diseases, lack of food, lack of job and low wage as negative consequences that women migrants were  faced during and after their arrival to Injibara town. Accordingly, diversifying rural agricultural and non-farming business practices and formulation of  appropriate migration policies that address economic and social needs of the migrants is crucial.