When mothers move: the impact of maternal migration motives on child health outcomes in Yemen

Purpose This study aims to examine how migration in Yemen adversely influences child health and development by mounting rates of stunting, wasting and malnutrition, while also disrupting essential healthcare services and contributing to long-term cognitive and physical damages among migrant children. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzes data from the 2022–2023 Yemen Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, covering 19,604 children in 22,000 households, to assess the impact of maternal migration motives including economic, conflict-related and marriage on child health using logistic and negative binomial regression models. Findings This study found that maternal migration due to economic motive in Yemen significantly increased child malnutrition risks, while marriage-related migration reduced wasting and underweight but increased sickness prevalence. Furthermore, male children and those from the underprivileged households were more vulnerable, particularly to wasting. However, regional differences showed children in Al Jawf had the highest probabilities of wasting and underweight, Raymah had the highest stunting rates and urban residency was related to more frequent illness. Originality/value Addressing migration-related vulnerabilities requires targeted nutrition programs in high-risk governorates led by Ministry of Public Health and Population and partners, and Primary Health Care-based health packages for newly arrived married migrants. In addition, economic pressures should be mitigated through shock-responsive cash support administered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.