Objective  To examine health status of African migrants in Guangzhou city and the migrants′ evaluation on health services in China and influencing factors of the evaluations for providing evidences for the improvement of the medical service in the population.

  Methods  We conducted a questionnaire survey among 330 African migrants visiting Guangzhou Exit-Entry Administration Office between January and February 2016. An electronic questionnaire in thirteen languages was completed by the migrants on a tablet. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used in data analyses.

  Results  Of all the participants, 81.2% were male; 57.9% had spent no more than 6 cumulative months in China; 6.1% reported a self-evaluated unhealthy status; 10.6% experienced health problems while in China; 32.7% had medical insurance in China. Among the participants, 5.1%, 38.5% and 56.4% considered the overall health service in China being poor, fair, and good, respectively. The participants staying in China for a longer period were more likely to report a poor self-rated health status (odds ratio OR = 3.37, P < 0.05) and those could not communicate in Chinese at all were less likely having a health problem in China (OR = 0.24, P < 0.01); while, the participants with a cohabiting partner or a regular sex partners (OR = 7.33, P < 0.01), having a visa type other than business or work or student (OR = 5.19, P < 0.05), ever participating in a chamber of commerce or hometown association in Guangzhou city (OR = 3.29, P < 0.05), and receiving education in China (OR = 4.05, P < 0.05) were more likely to reported a poor evaluation on health service in China.

  Conclusion  There will be more African migrants to China. Therefore, The health status and health needs of African migrants should not be ignored and more in-depth studies on the issues are needed for the promotion of 'South-South Collaboration' and 'Belt and Road' strategy.