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Ferrara A, Grindel C, Brunori C. A longitudinal perspective to migrant health: Unpacking the immigrant health paradox in Germany. Soc Sci Med 2024; 351:116976. [PMID: 38776707 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Previous research finds that recent immigrants are healthier than the native-born, while more established immigrants exhibit worse health, suggesting a process of unhealthy assimilation. However, previous literature is mostly based on cross-sectional data or on longitudinal analyses similarly failing to disentangle individual-level variation from between-individual confounding. Moreover, previous longitudinal studies are often limited in their study of different health outcomes (few and mostly subjective health), populations (sometimes only elderly individuals), time periods (short panels) and geographical contexts (mostly Australia, Canada and USA). We address these limitations by comparing the health trajectories of adult immigrants and natives in Germany over extended periods, using data from years 2002-2021 of the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), and investigating a wide range of health outcomes, including self-assessed physical and mental health measures, diagnosed illnesses, and health behaviors. We employ a longitudinal approach that stratifies immigrants by age at arrival, and compares them to natives of the same age. This allows us to estimate both Hierarchical Linear Models and more rigorous Fixed Effects models to further address confounding. Cross-sectionally, we confirm previous literature's findings: recent immigrants are healthier than natives and established immigrants. Longitudinally, we find support for the unhealthy assimilation hypothesis concerning subjective health and mental health, but not for the others health indicators or behaviors. We interpret these findings as possible evidence of immigrants' reduced access to timely health care and emphasize the need for greater longitudinal research investigating migrant gaps in various health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ferrara
- Freie University, Institute of Sociology, Garystraße 55, 14195 Berlin, Germany; WZB Social Science Center Berlin, Reichpietschufer 50, 10785 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Carla Grindel
- Humbold University, Department of Social Sciences, Universitätsstraße 3B, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Brunori
- Department of Sociology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona & Centre d'Estudis Demográfics, Edifici B Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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Kulhánová I, Lustigová M, Drbohlav D, Leontiyeva Y, Dzúrová D. Determinants of self-rated health among highly educated Ukrainian women refugees in Czechia: analysis based on cross-sectional study in 2022. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:206. [PMID: 38561703 PMCID: PMC10985999 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03053-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Russia's military aggression against Ukraine set in motion a large number of refugees. Considerable amount of them came and stayed in Czechia. Refugees represent special vulnerable individuals often affected by war physically and psychologically. Due to the national regulations not allowing most of Ukrainian men aged 18-60 to leave the country, nowadays Ukrainian forced migration is relatively young and strongly gendered. Evidence suggests the higher probability for searching the safe refuge abroad among Ukrainian women with small children as well as those with relatively higher economic and cultural capital. The aim of this study is to identify the structural features of systemic risks associated with war migration by examining determinants of self-rated health among forcibly displaced highly educated Ukrainian women of productive age residing in Czechia. METHODS Data from one wave of the panel survey among Ukrainian refugees in Czechia conducted in September 2022 was used. Determinants of self-rated health including self-reported diseases and healthcare factors, lifestyle, human and social capital, economic factors, and migration characteristics were analysed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS About 45% highly educated Ukrainian women refugees in Czechia assessed their health as poor. The poor self-rated health was mostly associated with the number of diseases and depressive symptoms, and by social capital and economic factors. Having four and more diseases (OR = 13.26; 95%-CI: 5.61-31.35), showing some severe depressive symptoms (OR = 7.20; 95%-CI: 3.95-13.13), experiencing difficulties to seek help from others (OR = 2.25; 95%-CI: 1.20-4.23), living alone in a household (OR = 2.67; 95%-CI: 1.37-5.27), having severe material deprivation (OR = 2.70; 95%-CI: 1.35-5.41) and coming originally from the eastern part of Ukraine (OR = 2.96; 95%-CI: 1.34-6.55) increased the chance of these refugees to assess their health as poor. CONCLUSION Social and economic determinants such as lack of social contacts for seeking help and material deprivation were found to be crucial for self-rated health and should be tackled via migration policies. Further, qualitative research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind the factors affecting subjectively assessed health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Kulhánová
- Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czechia.
- Department of Demography and Geodemography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
| | - Michala Lustigová
- Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czechia
| | - Dušan Drbohlav
- Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czechia
| | - Yana Leontiyeva
- Czech Social Science Data Archive, Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Dagmar Dzúrová
- Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czechia
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Chan A, Kinsman L, Chan SWC. "I use salt. However, I also use soy sauce, oyster sauce, sometimes chili sauce and….": interviews with Australians of Chinese ancestry regarding reducing salt consumption for hypertension prevention. BMC Nurs 2023; 22:414. [PMID: 37926831 PMCID: PMC10626782 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01576-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High dietary salt consumption is a significant health issue in Chinese populations. This study identified the facilitators for and barriers to salt reduction for prevention of hypertension among Chinese Australians. METHODS An inductive qualitative study with semi-structured interviews (n = 8) was conducted with convenience samples recruited from social media. Adults who a) were over 18 years old, b) were of Chinese ancestry and c) had lived in Australia for at least 6 months were eligible for participation. Interview transcripts were transcribed and analysed using content analysis. RESULTS Four facilitators for and eight barriers to reducing salt consumption were synthesised from the narrative materials. The facilitators were: 1) individual perceptions of health benefits, 2) salt alternatives, 3) digital information and 4) increased awareness of negative health impacts from a high-salt diet. The barriers identified were: 1) negative physical changes not apparent, 2) inadequate salt-related health education, 3) hidden salt in food products, 4) inadequate food literacy, 5) pricing, 6) busy lifestyle, 7) low perceived susceptibility and 8) individual food taste preference and cooking habits. Peer and family influence had positive and negative effects on participants' likelihood of reducing salt consumption. CONCLUSIONS The facilitators for and barriers to maintaining a low-salt diet in Chinese Australians were multifaceted and interrelated. Future salt-reduction strategies should focus on the health benefits of reduced salt consumption and practical interventions such as salt alternatives and education on low-salt food choices and cooking methods and changing perceptions about salt reduction to become a social norm in the Chinese community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Chan
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
- School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
| | - Leigh Kinsman
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia
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Chae D, Yang H, Doorenbos AZ, Park CG, Asami K. The Relationship Between Duration of Stay and Self-rated Health Among International College Students in South Korea. J Community Health 2023; 48:67-78. [PMID: 36264380 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-022-01145-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study examined relationships between duration of stay and self-rated health among international students in South Korea and compared participants' health-related characteristics according to duration of stay. The study recruited a convenience sample of 165 international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs. For this cross-sectional, descriptive study, participants were recruited at one South Korean university. Data were subjected to ordinal logistic regression analyses. After controlling for covariates, a stay of 6 months or less was a significant predictor of better self-rated health. Compared to those in their first semester, international students staying more than 6 months more frequently experienced short sleep duration, physical health symptoms, healthcare utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and perceived discrimination. Study findings indicate that international students' health tends to deteriorate after their first semester. To promote the health and academic success of international students, universities should provide timely health promotion programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duckhee Chae
- College of Nursing, Chonnam National University, 160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea
| | - Hyunju Yang
- College of Nursing, Chonnam National University, 160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea.
| | - Ardith Z Doorenbos
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chang Gi Park
- Department of Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Keiko Asami
- College of Nursing, Chonnam National University, 160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea
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Bacong AM, Hing AK, Morey B, Crespi CM, Kabamalan MM, Lee NR, Wang MC, de Castro AB, Gee GC. Health selection on self-rated health and the healthy migrant effect: Baseline and 1-year results from the health of Philippine Emigrants Study. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000324. [PMID: 36082314 PMCID: PMC9450558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Studies of migration and health focus on a "healthy migrant effect" whereby migrants are healthier than individuals not migrating. Health selection remains the popular explanation of this phenomenon. However, studies are mixed on whether selection occurs and typically examine migrants post-departure. This study used a novel pre-migration dataset to identify which health and social domains differ between migrants and their non-migrant counterparts and their contribution to explaining variance in self-rated health by migrant status at pre-migration and 1-year later. Data were used from the baseline and 1-year follow-up of the Health of Philippine Emigrants Study (HoPES). We used multivariable ordinary least squares regression to examine differences in self-rated health between migrants to the U.S. and a comparable group of non-migrants at baseline (premigration) and one year later, accounting for seven domains: physical health, mental health, health behavior, demographics, socioeconomic factors and healthcare utilization, psychosocial factors, and social desirability. A migrant advantage was present for self-rated health at baseline and 1-year. Accounting for all domains, migrants reported better self-rated health compared to non-migrants both at baseline (β = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.43) and at 1-year (β = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.46). Migrant status, health behavior, and mental health accounted for most of the variance in self-rated health both at baseline and 1-year follow-up. This analysis provides evidence of migrant health selection and nuanced understanding to what is being captured by self-rated health in studies of migrant health that should be considered in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Matias Bacong
- University of California-Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Anna K. Hing
- University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Brittany Morey
- University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Catherine M. Crespi
- University of California-Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | | | - Nanette R. Lee
- USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc., University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
| | - May C. Wang
- University of California-Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - A. B. de Castro
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Gilbert C. Gee
- University of California-Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Going 'beyond the mean' in analysing immigrant health disparities. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2022.47.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Rada I, Oyarte M, Cabieses B. A comparative analysis of health status of international migrants and local population in Chile: a population-based, cross-sectional analysis from a social determinants of health perspective. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1329. [PMID: 35820866 PMCID: PMC9277854 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13709-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During recent decades intraregional migration has increased in Latin America. Chile became one of the main receiving countries and hosted diverse international migrant groups. Evidence have suggested a healthy migrant effect (HME) on health status, but it remains scarce, controversial and needs to be updated. This study performed a comprehensive analysis verifying the existence of HME and its association with social determinants of health (SDH). METHODS We analyzed data from the Chilean National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN, version 2017). Unadjusted prevalence of health status indicators such as negative self-perceived health, chronic morbidity, disability, and activity limitations were described in both international migrants and local population. Adjusted associations between these outcomes and sets of demographics, socioeconomic, access to healthcare, psychosocial and migration-related SDH were tested using multivariate logistic regression in each population. The HME for each health outcome was also tested using multivariate logistic regression and sequentially adjusting for each set of SDH (ref = Chilean). RESULTS International migrants had lower unadjusted prevalence of all health indicators compared to Chileans. That is, unadjusted analysis revealed an apparent HME in all health outcomes. Age, unemployment, and health care system affiliation were associated with health outcomes in both populations. Psychosocial determinants were both risk and protective for the analysed health outcomes. After adjustment for each set of SDH, the immigrant health advantage was only significant for chronic morbidity. Being migrant was associated with 39% lower odds of having chronic diseases compared to locals (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.44-0.84; P = 0.0003). For all other outcomes, HME disappeared after adjusting by SDH, particularly unemployment, type of health system and psychosocial factors. CONCLUSIONS Testing the HME in Chile revealed an advantage for chronic morbidities that remained significant after adjustment for SDH. This analysis shed light on health disparities between international migrants and local population in the Latin American region, with special relevance of unemployment, type of health system and psychosocial SDH. It also informed about differential exposures faced during migration process that could dissolve the HME over time. Evidence from this analytical approach is useful for informing health planning and intersectoral solutions from a SDH perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Rada
- Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. Plaza 680, Las Condes, Región, Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Marcela Oyarte
- Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Subdepartamento Innovación, Desarrollo, Transferencia Tecnológica y ETESA, Departamento Agencia Nacional de Dispositivos Médicos, Innovación y Desarrollo, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Báltica Cabieses
- Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. Plaza 680, Las Condes, Región, Metropolitana, Chile.
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Shah LM, Kwapong YA, Boakye E, Ogunwole SM, Bennett WL, Blumenthal RS, Hays AG, Blaha MJ, Nasir K, Zakaria S, Wang G, Wang X, Sharma G. Racial Disparities in Gestational Diabetes by Maternal Nativity and Length of US Residence in an Urban Low-income Population in the United States. CJC Open 2022; 4:540-550. [PMID: 35734520 PMCID: PMC9207772 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2022.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Racial/ethnic differences in GDM prevalence have been described, but disparities by nativity and duration of US residence are not well studied. Methods We analyzed data from 6088 women (mean age: 27.5 years [standard deviation: 6.3 years]) from the Boston Birth Cohort who self-identified as non-Hispanic Black (NHB; n = 2697), Hispanic (n = 2395), or non-Hispanic White (NHW; n = 996). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the cross-sectional association of nativity and duration of US residence (< 10 vs ≥ 10 years) with GDM within each race/ethnicity group. Results Foreign-born NHB, NHW, and Hispanic women with a duration of US residence of < 10 years had a lower prevalence of CVD risk factors than those with US residence of ≥ 10 years, respectively, as follows: smoking (NHB: 1.7% vs 3.1%; NHW: 5.7% vs 8.1%; Hispanic: 0.4% vs 2.6%); obesity (NHB: 17.1% vs 23.4%; NHW: 3.8% vs 15.6%; Hispanic: 10.9% vs 22.7%); and severe stress (NHB: 8.7% vs 11.9%; NHW: 5.7% vs 28.1%; Hispanic: 3.8% vs 7.3%). In analyses adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and CVD risk factors, foreign-born NHB women with a duration of US residence of < 10 years had higher odds of having GDM (adjusted odds ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.99-2.60), compared with their US-born counterparts, whereas foreign-born Hispanic women with a duration of US residence of < 10 years had lower odds of having GDM (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.91). The odds of having GDM in Hispanic and NHB women with a duration of US residence of ≥ 10 years were not significantly different from those of their US-born counterparts. Conclusions The “healthy immigrant effect” and its waning with longer duration of US residence apply to the prevalence of GDM among Hispanic women but not NHB women. Further research on the intersectionality of race and nativity-based disparities is needed.
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Gendering health differences between nonmigrants and migrants by duration of stay in Italy. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2021.45.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Salman K, Turek JM, Donovan C. Community Health and Wellness Fair: A strategy for Assessment of Social Determinants of Health, Inclusion and Engagement of Newcomers. J Community Health 2020; 46:527-537. [PMID: 32725370 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00901-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Community health fair has been used informally as a way of offering health promotion, education, and screening services onsite to underserved and hard to reach populations such as the newcomers. To utilize an annual health fair for the assessment of the overall perception of health status of newcomers in relation to the determinants of health; and to evaluate its effectiveness as an intervention to engage attendees in their community. The 3rd Annual refugees and immigrant's health and wellness resources fair in Allegheny County. A cross sectional study was designed using questionnaires focused on the health and social determinants of health, with few open-ended questions related to engagement and networking. A total of 107 individuals participated in the study. The age ranged between 18-75 years, 46.9% males and 53% females. The largest representations from Bhutan, Arab Middle Eastern countries, and Ghana. Perception of health was examined in relation to other determinants such as language, regular checkups, employment, income, education, access to health, and psychosocial needs. Results revealed that health perception varied by ethnicity, was influenced by English proficiency, access to health, employment, and regular checkups, while education, and income did not show an impact. A qualitative analysis to the narrative responses revealed that the health fair was very effective in breaking the structural barriers with providers as well as for community engagement. The annual health fair was a successful strategy in the assessment of the health determinants and for community engagement of the newcomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khlood Salman
- Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15286, USA.
| | - Jaime M Turek
- Northern Area Multi Service Center, Community Assistance and Refugee Resettlement Department, 209 13th St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15215, USA
| | - Caley Donovan
- Refugee Caseworker, JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services, 5743 Bartlett Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, USA
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