Disability and employment among U.S. working-age immigrants

Racial And Ethnic Differences In The Frequency Of Workplace Injuries And Prevalence Of Work-Related Disability

Occupational injuries and illnesses lead to significant health care costs and productivity losses for millions of workers each year. This study used national survey data to test for differences between members of minority groups and non-Hispanic white workers in the risk of workplace injuries and the prevalence of work-related disabilities. Non-Hispanic black workers and foreign-born Hispanic workers worked in jobs with the highest injury risk, on average, even after adjustment for education and sex. These elevated levels of workplace injury risk led to a significant increase in the prevalence of work-related disabilities for non-Hispanic black and foreign-born Hispanic workers. These findings suggest that disparities in economic opportunities expose members of minority groups to increased risk of workplace injury and disability.

Health spending among working-age immigrants with disabilities compared to those born in the US

BACKGROUND

Immigrants have disparate access to health care. Disabilities can amplify their health care burdens.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

Examine how US- and foreign-born working-age adults with disabilities differ in their health care spending patterns.

METHODS

Medical Expenditures Panel Survey yearly-consolidated files (2000-2010) on working-age adults (18-64 years) with disabilities. We used three operational definitions of disability: physical, cognitive, and sensory. We examined annual total, outpatient/office-based, prescription medication, inpatient, and emergency department (ED) health expenditures. We tested bivariate logistic and linear regression models to, respectively, assess unadjusted group differences in the propensity to spend and average expenditures. Second, we used multivariable two-part models to estimate and test per-capita expenditures adjusted for predisposing, enabling, health need and behavior indicators.

RESULTS

Adjusted for age and sex differences, US-born respondents with physical, cognitive, sensory spent on average $2977, $3312, and $2355 more in total compared to their foreign-born counterparts (P < 0.01). US-born spending was also higher across the four types of health care expenditures considered. Adjusting for the behavioral model factors, especially predisposing and enabling indicators, substantially reduced nativity differences in overall, outpatient/office-based and medication spending but not in inpatient and ED expenditures.

CONCLUSIONS

Working-age immigrants with disabilities have lower levels of health care use and expenditures compared to their US-born counterparts. Affordable Care Act provisions aimed at increasing access to insurance and primary care can potentially align the consumption patterns of US- and foreign-born disabled working-age adults. More work is needed to understand the pathways leading to differences in hospital and prescription medication care.

Increased risk of unintentional injuries in adults with disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

An increased risk of unintentional injuries among individuals with disability has been reported in many studies, yet quantitative syntheses of findings from previous studies have not been done.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize the relationship between pre-existing disability and unintentional injuries.

METHODS

We searched 14 electronic databases to identify original research published between Jan 1, 1990 and Feb 28, 2013. Included studies reported the odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) of unintentional injuries in adults 18+ years of age with pre-existing disabilities compared with adults without disabilities. Twenty six eligible studies were included covering 54,586 individuals with disabilities. We conducted quality assessments and then analyzed the pooled effects using random-effect models.

RESULTS

The pooled OR of unintentional injuries was 1.77 (95% CI 1.51-2.07) for all studies in individuals with disabilities compared with individuals without disabilities. The pooled ORs were 1.87 (95% CI 1.52-2.30) for overall unintentional injuries, 1.64 (95% CI 1.39-1.94) for falls-related injuries, 1.62 (95% CI 1.24-2.13) for occupational injuries, and 1.91 (95% CI 1.59-2.30) for non-occupational injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with adults without disabilities, individuals with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of unintentional injuries. Evidence about the association between cognitive disabilities and unintentional injuries is weak. Future researchers are encouraged to use International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to classify disability and use rigorous evaluation methods to assess and implement the most appropriate injury prevention efforts to mitigate the risks identified.

Chronic health conditions, labour market participation and resource consumption among immigrant and native-born residents of Canada

OBJECTIVES

To compare chronic illnesses, economic dependence and health-care use by immigrants and native-born Canadians.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of the Canada Community Health Survey national data (2009-2010) was conducted.

RESULTS

Recent and established immigrants were healthier than native-born Canadians. Healthy, established immigrants were more likely than native-born Canadians to be working, and no more likely to use transfer payments. Health-challenged recent immigrants had high employment rates, but low rates of health care. Health-challenged established immigrants and native born were equally likely to be working, depending on transfer payments and using health care. Regardless of nativity or health, education, male gender and linguistic fluency increased the probability of employment. Female gender and advancing age increased the likelihood of dependency. Residents of Canada's most prosperous regions were the most likely to be employed and the least likely to receive transfer payments.

CONCLUSIONS

Immigrants with chronic illnesses do not inevitably dilute the economic benefits of immigration or create excessive burden. Timely programs to promote integration can help ensure a favourable balance between economic contribution and social cost. Neglecting the health of new immigrants may eventuate in long-term disability.

Occupational health outcomes for workers in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector: implications for immigrant workers in the southeastern US

BACKGROUND

Workers in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (AgFF) sector experience exposures directly related to the work itself, as well as the physical environment in which the work occurs. Health outcomes vary from immediate to delayed, and from acute to chronic.

METHODS

We reviewed existing literature on the health outcomes of work in the AgFF sector and identified areas where further research is needed to understand the impact of these exposures on immigrant Latino workers in the southeastern US.

RESULTS

Outcomes related to specific body systems (e.g., musculoskeletal, respiratory) as well as particular exposure sources (e.g., pesticides, noise) were reviewed. The most extensive evidence exists for agriculture, with a particular focus on chemical exposures. Little research in the southeastern US has examined health outcomes of exposures of immigrant workers in forestry or fisheries.

CONCLUSION

As the AgFF labor force includes a growing number of Latino immigrants, more research is needed to characterize a broad range of exposures and health outcomes experienced by this population, particularly in forestry and fisheries.

Nonoccupational and occupational injuries to US workers with disabilities

OBJECTIVES

We examined medically treated injuries among US workers with disability.

METHODS

Using 2006-2010 National Health Interview Survey data, we compared 3-month rates of nonoccupational and occupational injuries to workers with disability (n = 7729) and without disability (n = 175 947). We fitted multivariable logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of injuries by disability status, controlling for sociodemographic variables. We also compared leading causes of injuries by disability status.

RESULTS

In the 3-month period prior to the survey, workers with disability were more likely than other workers to have nonoccupational injuries (odds ratio [OR] = 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.04, 2.71) and occupational injuries (OR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.89, 3.01). For both groups, the leading cause was falls.

CONCLUSIONS

Disability status was strongly associated with risk of nonoccupational and occupational injuries among US workers. The safety issues facing US workers with disability in the workplace warrant future research. Federal agencies with an interest in the employment of workers with disability and their safety in the workplace should take a lead in further assessing injury risk and in promoting a safe working environment for workers with disability.