Maternal migration impacts children: Exploring the underlying factors and pathways for policy reform in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Maternal migration in Sri Lanka, driven by economic necessity, poses risks to child protection and development. The 2013 Family Background Report (FBR) policy introduced in Sri Lanka restricted mothers' migration to safeguard children. Although the policy intended to protect children, it was criticized for violating women's rights and lacking evidence of effectiveness. Amid economic difficulty, the policy was partially reversed in 2022 reigniting concerns about children's well-being. This study explores how maternal migration affects children, identifies root causes that must be addressed to strengthen child protection without unfairly restricting women's rights, and uniquely contributes to existing literature by highlighting gendered policy gaps and proposing actionable, locally grounded reforms. Method: A narrative synthesis review was conducted using Popay et al.'s (2006) framework. Seven qualitative studies were selected from databases such as PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar. Studies were chosen based on their relevance to maternal migration and its effects on children in similar socio-economic contexts. Results: Three key themes emerged: (1) Traditional gender norms restricting paternal caregiving; (2) Inadequate alternative caregiving arrangements during maternal migration; and (3) Economic and structural pressures that drive maternal migration. These factors cause emotional distress, neglect, and poor developmental outcomes for left-behind children underscoring the necessity for laws supporting children's well-being. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for child-focused comprehensive policy reforms addressing root causes of negative impacts of maternal migration on children. Recommendations include promoting shared caregiving by empowering fathers, investing in government-funded childcare facilities, mandating migrating parents to prove adequate childcare for their children's safety, introducing mandatory state welfare monitoring for children of migrating parents, and addressing root economic causes of migration through targeted support and poverty reduction initiatives. These measures aim to protect children's rights while promoting gender equity in migration policies.