Parental migration and smoking behavior of left-behind children: evidence from a survey in rural Anhui, China

Table 2 Characteristics (related to migration) of left-behind children (LBC) in rural Anhui, China, 2012

Variable	Number	Percentage (%)
n	757	100.0
Migration status
Father out only	281	37.1
Mother out only	100	13.2
Both out	376	49.7
Length of parental migration (years)
≤ 1	168	22.2
1–5	403	53.2
≥ 6	186	24.6
Frequency of parental contact^a
Everyday	160	21.1
Once a week	342	45.2
Once every 1 to 4 weeks	145	19.2
Once a month (or longer)	110	14.5
Frequency of home visits by parents
Once each 3 months	118	15.6
Once each 4 to 6 months	287	37.9
Once each 7 to 12 months	299	39.5
Once each 12 months (or longer)	53	7.0
Primary caregiver
Mother	281	37.1
Father	100	13.2
Grandparents	263	34.7
Other relatives	113	14.9

Source: Authors’ analyses of survey data that the authors and collaborators conducted in rural Anhui province, China
^aThe parents contacted with their children left behind usually by phone (over 95 %)

ISSN: 1475-9276