THE IMPACT OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICE UTILIZATION ON SETTLEMENT INTENTION AMONG RURAL-URBAN OLDER MIGRANTS

HUANG Cui-ying; LUO Zheng; LIU Ye

doi:10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.04.005

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HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4) : 45-52,61. DOI: 10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.04.005

SPECIAL COLUMN ON POPULATION MOBILITY AND URBAN-RURAL DEVELOPMENT

THE IMPACT OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICE UTILIZATION ON SETTLEMENT INTENTION AMONG RURAL-URBAN OLDER MIGRANTS

HUANG Cui-ying^1,2,3, LUO Zheng¹, LIU Ye^1,2,3

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Abstract

Using microdata from the 2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey, this study examines the effect of local public healthcare service utilization on the settlement intentions of rural-urban older migrants, and explores heterogeneity by health status, marital status and education. Four types of public healthcare services are analyzed: medical insurance, family doctor services, resident health records and health education. The results show that local public healthcare service utilization significantly increases settlement intentions. Specifically, medical insurance, resident health records and health education have positive effects, while family doctor services show no significant overall effect. Older age, higher per capita monthly household expenditure, unemployment, intra-provincial migration, retirement-oriented migration and better neighborhood green space are associated with stronger long-term settlement intentions. Heterogeneity analysis shows that family doctor services have stronger effects among migrants in poorer health and those who are unmarried, divorced or widowed. Resident health records have stronger effects among migrants in better health than among those in poorer health. The effect of local public healthcare service utilization does not differ significantly by education. These findings suggest that improving accessible and targeted public healthcare services can help enhance the urban integration of rural-urban older migrants.

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public healthcare services / rural-urban migration / older migrants / settlement intentions / China

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HUANG Cui-ying, LUO Zheng, LIU Ye. THE IMPACT OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICE UTILIZATION ON SETTLEMENT INTENTION AMONG RURAL-URBAN OLDER MIGRANTS[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026, 41(4): 45-52,61 https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.04.005

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