50 results
Search Results
2. Oral health inequalities in immigrant populations worldwide: a scoping review of dental caries and periodontal disease prevalence.
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Banihashem Rad, Seyed Ahmad, Esteves-Oliveira, Marcella, Maklennan, Anastasia, Douglas, Gail V. A., Castiglia, Paolo, and Campus, Guglielmo
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PERIODONTAL disease ,DENTAL caries ,HEALTH of immigrants ,ORAL health ,DISEASE prevalence - Abstract
Background: Inequalities in immigrants' oral health are often masked in population-level data. Therefore, this paper was planned to assess the prevalence data on oral health diseases, namely dental caries, and periodontitis, among immigrants worldwide. Methods: Following a systematic search in Scopus, Embase, and PubMed for studies published between 2011 and 2023, 1342 records were identified. Following title and abstract screening, 76 studies remained for full-text eligibility-screening based on predefined inclusion criteria. Thirty-two studies were included in the review. Results: Dental caries figures were higher in immigrant populations compared to the local population, regardless of host countries, age, gender, or nationality. In children, the overall mean and standard deviation (SD) for decayed, missing, and filled teeth in the primary dentition (d
3 mft) was 3.63(2.47), and for D3 MFT (permanent dentition), it was 1.7(1.2). Upon comparing overall mean caries counts in children and adults with their control groups in the included studies, untreated dental caries (D3 T and d3 t) constituted the dominant share of caries experience (D3 MFT and d3 mft) in immigrant children. For the local population, the highest proportion of caries experience was attributed to filled teeth (FT and ft). Dentin caries prevalence among immigrants ranged from 22% to 88.7% in the primary dentition and 5.6% to 90.9% in the permanent dentition. Gingivitis ranged from 5.1% to 100%. Oral health varied greatly between studies. Regarding oral health accessibility, 52% to 88% of immigrant children had never been to a dentist, suggesting a very limited level of accessibility to dental health services. Conclusion: It is imperative to develop interventions and policies that have been customized to address the oral health disparities experienced by immigrant populations. Additionally, host countries should actively implement measures aimed at enhancing the accessibility of oral health care services for these individuals. The utilization of available data is crucial in establishing a hierarchy of objectives aimed at enhancing the oral health of immigrant populations. Trial registration: The Scoping review protocol was registered at OSF Registries with registration number (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/MYXS4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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3. The impact of EU enlargement on immigrants' mental health.
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Berlanda, Andrea, Lodigiani, Elisabetta, Tosetti, Elisa, and Vittadini, Giorgio
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HEALTH of immigrants , *HEALTH of older people , *PSYCHOLOGICAL distress , *LABOR market ,EUROPEAN Union membership - Abstract
In this paper 2 2 This paper was supported by the PRIN project n.2022CZKPMY entitled "Health and Wellbeing of the Elderly", funded by the MUR. we explore the impact of the 2007 European Union enlargement to Romania and Bulgaria on the mental health of documented immigrants from these countries who arrived in Italy before 2007. Using data from a unique administrative data set for the Italian Lombardy region and by employing a difference-in-differences individual fixed effect estimator, we find that this enlargement caused a significant improvement in the mental health of young male immigrants. To shed light on the mechanisms behind these results, we use data from a unique survey administered in the Lombardy region and show that the enlargement mitigates sources of health concerns and increases income and employment stability through permanent job contracts for young male immigrants. Overall, these findings suggest that enhanced labour market conditions due to enlargement may lead to a subsequent important decrease in psychological distress among immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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4. Population Growth Demand and Challenges of Health Equality Among Immigrants Towards Healthcare Services in Malaysia.
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Fakuruddin, Muhammad Qusyairi, Ayub, Nor Aliya, Muhd Aris, Nor Azila, Mohd Ahwan, Nur Atiqah, Mohd Rawi, Siti Bazlina, and Sutan, Rosnah
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RIGHT to health ,SOCIAL adjustment ,HEALTH of immigrants ,FOREIGN workers ,HEALTH equity - Abstract
Introduction Malaysia's economic development increases the demand for immigrant workers to ensure health equality. To achieve Universal Health Coverage, issues related to immigrants need to be revisited. Methods A narrative review was conducted on specific scopes of health access barriers among immigrants from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Results Immigrants face health inequalities due to complex immigration policies, cultural and social adaptation differences, language barriers, financial constraints, and low literacy awareness of healthcare systems. Conclusions This brief essay highlights challenges for immigrants adhering to Malaysia’s Health White Paper strategies in meeting Universal Health Coverage. Expanding these strategies is vital to uphold immigrants’ fundamental rights and ensure health equality among the minority group of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
5. Historical roots of loneliness and its impact on second-generation immigrants' health.
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Casabianca, Elizabeth and Kovacic, Matija
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SOCIAL attitudes , *HEALTH of immigrants , *LONELINESS , *SOCIAL influence , *BODY mass index - Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between historical cultural norms and attitudes towards loneliness, specifically within the context of second-generation immigrants. We uncover an intergenerationally transmitted cultural element that emphasizes restraint and adherence to strict rules characterizing highly-intensive pre-industrial agricultural systems. This cultural dimension significantly impacts how individuals perceive their social relationships and influences their likelihood of experiencing loneliness. Additionally, we demonstrate that the identified cultural trait serves as a predictor of loneliness in a two-stage model for health. Our research shows that loneliness directly impacts body mass index and specific mental health issues, and these findings hold true across a battery of sensitivity checks. The results add to the existing body of research highlighting the importance of attitudes in predicting economic and health outcomes, shedding light on how deeply ingrained geographical, cultural, and individual characteristics can shape economic development processes in both home and host countries. • Attitudes towards loneliness are historically determined. • Intergenerationally transmitted norms shape the likelihood of loneliness. • Historical determinants of loneliness are used as exogenous source of loneliness. • Loneliness has a direct impact on body mass index and specific mental health issues. • The effect of instrumented loneliness is much larger in magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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6. Does health insurance participation matter in shaping African immigrants' physical health in Guangzhou, China? The role of mental health.
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Du, Haitao and Zhang, Bo
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HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH insurance ,AFRICANS ,COST of living ,WELL-being ,HEALTH insurance exchanges - Abstract
China is a burgeoning immigrant‐receiving country, and policies on immigration are just beginning to be developed. While African immigration to China was uncommon 30 years ago, China has gradually become a major destination for African immigrants due to its robust economy, welcoming universities, and low cost of living. Currently, there are increasing numbers of African students and professionals who are migrating to China to study or work. The health status of African migrants in China shapes their wellbeing, which plays a key role in strengthening long‐term cooperative relations between China and African countries. Although previous literature has examined the socioeconomic status of these African immigrants, the role of health insurance participation in shaping the health status of African immigrants remains obscure in China. Using data from the 2019 questionnaire‐survey in Guangzhou, China, this paper investigates the underlying mechanism driving African immigrants' health insurance participation as critical to their physical and mental health. Our results demonstrate that health insurance participation is a pivotal factor in the overall health of African immigrants; specifically, purchasing health insurance and one's mental and physical health can be characterised as a feedback loop. Purchasing health insurance can positively impact mental health, and consequently, better mental health can improve physical health. Good physical health also tends to bolster mental health. Therefore, policies aimed at improving African immigrants' mental and physical health are expected to encourage them to purchase health insurance above their present low level of insurance participation. The proposal here is that health policymaking for immigrants should include the interaction mechanism between physical and mental health rather than focus only on physical health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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7. Who cares? Civil society organizations as healthcare life vest for migrants in post troika Portugal.
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Padilla, Beatriz, Castellani, Simone, and Rodrigues, Vera
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CIVIL society , *ORGANIZATION management , *HEALTH of immigrants , *MEDICAL care - Abstract
In Southern European societies such as the Portuguese, family and civil society play a relevant role in welfare policies, acting as complementary or supplementary 'safety-nets' to the state. In times of crises, migrants' access to healthcare is not only questioned but put at risk. This paper unveils the specific roles played by Civil Society Organisations' (CSOs) in providing healthcare to migrants in the aftermath of TROIKA in Portugal. By categorising different types of CSOs based on their articulation with the State, and the health service delivery model adopted, we show how CSOs configure themselves differently ranging from 'service delivers' to migrants' 'advocates', adopting responses that vary between aid to co-production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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8. Do feelings of belonging moderate the health threats of perceived discrimination? Evidence from first-generation immigrants living in Germany.
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Tuppat, Julia
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PERCEIVED discrimination ,HEALTH of immigrants ,SOCIAL belonging ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors - Abstract
The paper analyses the effects of perceived discrimination on the self-rated health of immigrants living in Germany. Previous research indicates that immigrants' health is negatively affected by the psychosocial strain caused by perceived discrimination. I analyse whether feelings of belonging to both the origin and the host country play a moderating role in this association: While feelings of belonging to the origin country might buffer the health threat of perceived discrimination, a strong sense of belonging to the host country might exacerbate it because it increases immigrants' sensitivity and vulnerability to discrimination by the majority society. Using data from the German Socio-economic Panel Study (N = 10,412), I confirm previous research on the harmful effect of perceived discrimination on health. While feelings of belonging to the origin country are not a protective factor, the health threat of perceived discrimination indeed exacerbates with an increasing sense of belonging to the host country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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9. Entre a crença e o saber: cultura como falseamento da realidade em um ambulatório psiquiátrico para imigrantes e refugiadas em São Paulo, Brasil.
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Branco-Pereira, Alexandre
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MENTAL health services ,REFUGEES ,MASTER'S degree ,PSYCHIATRIC research ,DEAF people ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Copyright of Etnográfica: Revista do Centro de Estudos de Antropologia Social is the property of Centro em Rede de Investigacao em Antropologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2022
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10. COVID-19 a migranci we współczesnym świecie: analiza polityk migracyjnych wobec pandemii.
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BRZOZOWSKI, JAN and SIKORSKA, JOANNA
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COVID-19 pandemic ,MEDICAL quality control ,EMIGRATION & immigration ,HEALTH of immigrants ,MEDICAL care ,POLICY analysis ,REFUGEE children - Abstract
Copyright of Horizons of Politics / Horyzonty Polityki is the property of Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2022
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11. Vitamin D levels of pregnant immigrant women and developmental disorders of language, learning and coordination in offspring.
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Arrhenius, Bianca, Surcel, Heljä-Marja, Hinkka Yli-Salomäki, Susanna, Brown, Alan, Cheslack-Postava, Keely, and Sourander, Andre
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WOMEN immigrants ,LANGUAGE disorders ,VITAMIN D deficiency ,PREGNANCY ,APRAXIA ,VITAMIN D ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Background: Prenatal vitamin D deficiency is a common health concern among immigrants. No previous studies have examined the associations between prenatal vitamin D levels and developmental disorders of language, scholastic skills, and coordination in an immigrant sample. Methods: The sample included 542 immigrant mothers of cases with language, scholastic, coordination or mixed developmental disorders, 443 immigrant mothers of controls without these disorders and 542 Finnish mothers of controls. Maternal vitamin D was measured in serum samples collected during early pregnancy and stored in a national biobank. Results: The mean vitamin D levels during pregnancy were 25.0 (SD 14.4) nmol/L for immigrant mothers of cases, 25.4 (SD 15.5) for immigrant mothers of controls and 42.3 (SD 19.1) for Finnish mothers of controls. Low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy were not associated with the selected developmental disorders in offspring when immigrant mothers of cases were compared to immigrant mothers of controls (adjusted OR for continuous log-transformed vitamin D: 1.01, 95% CI 0.75–1.36, p = 0.96). When immigrant mothers of cases were compared to Finnish mothers of controls, the adjusted OR for continuous vitamin D was 18.94 (95% CI 11.47–31.25), p <0.001). The results were similar when vitamin D was examined as a categorical variable or divided into quintiles. Conclusions: Prenatal vitamin D levels were low, and similar, among immigrant mothers of cases with selected developmental disorders and unaffected controls. This indicates that vitamin D unlikely mediates previously observed associations between maternal immigrant status and the selected developmental disorders in offspring. The proportion of immigrant mothers with severe vitamin D deficiency was very high, which underlines the importance of prenatal counselling and overall public health efforts to improve immigrant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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12. Racialized Immigrants’ Encounters of Barriers and Facilitators in Seeking Mental Healthcare Services in Ontario, Canada.
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Salam, Zoha, Carranza, Mirna, Newbold, Bruce, Wahoush, Olive, and Joseph, Ameil
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MENTAL health services , *MEDICAL care , *HEALTH literacy , *MENTAL health policy , *HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Racialized immigrants have low rates of accessing mental healthcare services. However, there are notable differences among immigrant groups (e.g., refugees, international students, dependants). The aim of this study is to understand racialized immigrants’ experiences of accessing mental healthcare services at both systemic and individual levels. Through a qualitative descriptive methodology, interviews were conducted in English with 16 racialized immigrants to understand barriers and facilitators encountered. Additionally, focusing on how cultural and social conceptualizations ideas shape mental healthcare services. Interviews were analyzed through Braun & Clarke’s six-step method to reflexive thematic analysis in identifying factors. Three major themes were identified: structural constraints, individual influences, and appraisal of services. With the first, racialized immigrants signaled to issues related to the systemic level that included affordability, wait times, and trust in the system. Individual influences highlighted factors of mental health literacy, social supports, stigma, severity of the issues, and awareness of services themselves. Lastly, extending on the previous theme, appraisal of services was reflective of how social and cultural ideals shaped attitudes towards the appropriateness of the provider or services themselves. The findings from this paper emphasize that racialized immigrants are not homogenous in their experiences and attitudes towards mental healthcare services. While there were similarities across different groups in the individual and systemic factors identified, there were key distinctions driven by appraisal of services themselves and if they were congruent based on their needs, more specifically, what was contributing to their negative mental health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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13. Machine learning applications in studying mental health among immigrants and racial and ethnic minorities: an exploratory scoping review.
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Park, Khushbu Khatri, Saleem, Mohammad, Al-Garadi, Mohammed Ali, and Ahmed, Abdulaziz
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MACHINE learning ,HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH of minorities ,RACIAL minorities ,MINORITIES - Abstract
Background: The use of machine learning (ML) in mental health (MH) research is increasing, especially as new, more complex data types become available to analyze. By examining the published literature, this review aims to explore the current applications of ML in MH research, with a particular focus on its use in studying diverse and vulnerable populations, including immigrants, refugees, migrants, and racial and ethnic minorities. Methods: From October 2022 to March 2024, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and PubMed were queried. ML-related, MH-related, and population-of-focus search terms were strung together with Boolean operators. Backward reference searching was also conducted. Included peer-reviewed studies reported using a method or application of ML in an MH context and focused on the populations of interest. We did not have date cutoffs. Publications were excluded if they were narrative or did not exclusively focus on a minority population from the respective country. Data including study context, the focus of mental healthcare, sample, data type, type of ML algorithm used, and algorithm performance were extracted from each. Results: Ultimately, 13 peer-reviewed publications were included. All the articles were published within the last 6 years, and over half of them studied populations within the US. Most reviewed studies used supervised learning to explain or predict MH outcomes. Some publications used up to 16 models to determine the best predictive power. Almost half of the included publications did not discuss their cross-validation method. Conclusions: The included studies provide proof-of-concept for the potential use of ML algorithms to address MH concerns in these special populations, few as they may be. Our review finds that the clinical application of these models for classifying and predicting MH disorders is still under development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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14. A qualitative study exploring the perinatal experiences of social stress among first- and second-generation immigrant parents in Quebec, Canada.
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Vaillancourt, Monica, Deville-Stoetzel, Jean-Benoît, deMontigny, Francine, Dubeau, Diane, Gervais, Christine, Meunier, Sophie, Pierce, Tamarha, Ditto, Blaine, and Da Costa, Deborah
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ACCULTURATION ,EXPECTANT parents ,SOCIAL services ,HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH services accessibility ,EMIGRATION & immigration ,MENTAL health policy - Abstract
Background: Perinatal psychological distress adversely impacts the well-being and social adjustment of parents and their children. Expectant parents who have migrated may be at higher risk for perinatal psychological distress due to various migration-specific stressors and healthcare service barriers. Limited studies have examined the perceived determinants of perinatal distress in immigrant parents, particularly men. This study explored first and second-generation immigrant parents' lived experiences of social stressors and facilitators of perinatal psychological well-being. Methods: Participants were recruited by convenience and purposive sampling as part of a larger study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually with first and second-generation immigrant women and men in Quebec, Canada. An inductive thematic analysis was performed. Results: Sixteen women (age = 34.8 ± 3.7 years) and ten men (age = 35.1 ± 4.9 years) from various ethnic backgrounds participated in the study at 7.4 ± 0.73 and 7.5 ± 0.72 months postpartum, respectively. Three themes were identified: (1) cultural pressures (cultural differences in parenting, gender-related cultural pressures, health and baby-related practices), (2) health and social service access (social benefits and resources, and systemic barriers in health care), and (3) discrimination (physical appearance or parental-related discrimination, gender-related discrimination, ethnic-related discrimination). First-generation immigrant parents reported greater acculturative stress (i.e. mental health stigma, health care access) and ethnic discrimination concerns related to their distress. Among men, barriers include feeling as though the paternal role was devalued by society and not receiving consideration by health care. Conclusions: Our results highlight different social factors of perinatal well-being perceived by men and women from various ethnic and immigration backgrounds during the perinatal period. Perceived factors include macro-level factors, such as a country's social climate, health and social policies and services, and social aspects of acculturative stress. Our findings suggest the need for continued efforts to challenge and eliminate discriminatory practices. Interventions and resources directed at first-generation immigrant parents should be bolstered. Understanding what parents perceive to facilitate or hinder their psychological well-being can help inform the development of tailored evidence-based programs and policies to better meet the mental health needs of Canadians and reduce gender disparities in the treatment of perinatal distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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15. Anxious Activists? Examining Immigration Policy Threat, Political Engagement, and Anxiety among College Students with Different Self/Parental Immigration Statuses.
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Manalo-Pedro, Erin, Enriquez, Laura E., Nájera, Jennifer R., and Ro, Annie
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IMMIGRANT families ,MENTAL health policy ,HEALTH of immigrants ,IMMIGRATION policy ,IMMIGRATION status - Abstract
Restrictive immigration policies harm the mental health of undocumented immigrants and their U.S. citizen family members. As a sociopolitical stressor, threat to family due to immigration policy can heighten anxiety, yet it is unclear whether political engagement helps immigrant-origin students to cope. We used a cross-sectional survey of college students from immigrant families (N = 2,511) to investigate whether anxiety symptomatology was associated with perceived threat to family and if political engagement moderated this relationship. We stratified analyses by self/parental immigration statuses—undocumented students, U.S. citizens with undocumented parents, and U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents—to examine family members' legal vulnerability. Family threat was significantly associated with anxiety; higher levels of political engagement reduced the strength of this relationship. However, this moderation effect was significant only for U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents. These findings emphasize the importance of the family immigration context in shaping individuals' mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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16. Restrictive migration policies and their impact on HIV prevention, care and treatment services.
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Ekerin, Olabode, Shomuyiwa, Deborah Oluwaseun, Lucero-Prisno III, Don Eliseo, Agboola, Oluwafemi Oluwaseun, Damilola, Ayelawa Samuel, Onoja, Silvia Ojonoka, Chikwendu, Chisom Favour, and Manirambona, Emery
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HIV infections ,HIV ,HIV prevention ,HEALTH of immigrants ,RIGHT to health ,EMIGRATION & immigration - Abstract
Migration policies have a significant impact on population health, particularly for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These policies not only determine who is allowed to enter a country but also influence which immigrants can access services provided by the government. Some countries continue to impose restrictions on HIV-positive individuals, justifying these measures as necessary to protect public health and mitigate healthcare and economic concerns. However, these restrictions lack a valid public health rationale. Due to social, economic and political constraints, restrictive migration laws hinder access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services for immigrants living with HIV. Immigrants face numerous challenges in accessing medication, adhering to treatment regimens and benefitting from HIV preventive efforts. This situation increases the risk of HIV infection and adverse health outcomes due to limited access to preventive programmes, social stigma and engagement in risky behaviours. Additionally, these restrictive migration rules negatively affect immigrants' mental health. To improve the health of both immigrants and host communities, inclusive and evidence-based migration policies that address healthcare through public health and human rights lenses are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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17. Exploring Experiences and Asthma Management Among Middle Eastern Arabic-Speaking Migrants and Refugees with Asthma: A Qualitative Study.
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Al-Juhaishi, Malath, Lim, Chiao Xin, Chan, Vincent, Stupans, Ieva, and Thrimawithana, Thilini R
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MEDICAL personnel ,PATIENT compliance ,HEALTH literacy ,HEALTH of immigrants ,PSYCHOLOGICAL distress - Abstract
Purpose: Effective asthma management relies on individuals' knowledge, inhaler technique, and perceptions of asthma and medications. Investigating barriers and enablers to optimal asthma management is vital. This research pursues a comprehensive understanding of asthma control, asthma-related experiences, perceptions, inhaler technique, and knowledge among Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern migrants and refugees living in Australia. Furthermore, it aims to explore the factors influencing optimal asthma management within this demographic. Patients and Methods: This study involved interviews with 17 participants, with nine identified as migrants and eight as refugees. All participants were Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern individuals residing in Australia and diagnosed with asthma. Interviews were thematically analysed, and findings were presented following the guidelines of the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). Results: The thematic analysis yielded five key themes: (1) asthma experiences; (2) participant perspectives on asthma; (3) asthma management; (4) asthma health literacy; and (5) strategies to overcome obstacles in asthma management. Some disparities were noted between refugees and migrants in terms of their comprehension and views on asthma, medications use, interactions with healthcare providers, and inhaler technique. Refugees experienced more psychological distress and lacked social support, while migrants were more concerned about long-term medication use and preferred specialised care. Conclusion: This research addresses a knowledge gap concerning asthma control among Middle Eastern immigrants. It provides insights into their beliefs and medication adherence. It underscores the importance of considering the unique characteristics of Middle Eastern migrants and refugees when delivering healthcare interventions to enhance overall health and medication adherence within these populations. To address these differences, the study recommends tailored education, specialised clinics, and culturally relevant asthma management plans to enhance self-management support for both groups. Future studies should explore the impact of modifying beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge regarding medications and asthma to enhance asthma management within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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18. Mexican-origin women's individual and collective strategies to access and share health-promoting resources in the context of exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies.
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LeBrón, Alana M.W., Schulz, Amy J., Gamboa, Cindy, Reyes, Angela, Viruell-Fuentes, Edna, and Israel, Barbara A.
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IMMIGRATION policy ,INSTITUTIONAL racism ,WOMEN immigrants ,HEALTH of immigrants ,ELECTIONS - Abstract
Background: A growing literature has documented the social, economic, and health impacts of exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies in the early 21st century for Latiné communities in the US, pointing to immigration and immigrant policies as forms of structural racism that affect individual, family, and community health and well-being. Furthermore, the past decade has seen an increase in bi-partisan exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies. Immigration enforcement has been a major topic during the 2024 Presidential election cycle, portending an augmentation of exclusionary policies towards immigrants. Within this context, scholars have called for research that highlights the ways in which Latiné communities navigate exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies, and implications for health. This study examines ways in which Mexican-origin women in a midwestern northern border community navigate restrictive immigration and immigrant policies to access health-promoting resources and care for their well-being. Methods: We conducted a grounded theory analysis drawing on interviews with 48 Mexican-origin women in Detroit, Michigan, who identified as being in the first, 1.5, or second immigrant generation. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish, depending on participants' preferences, and were conducted at community-based organizations or other locations convenient to participants in 2013–2014. Results: Women reported encountering an interconnected web of institutional processes that used racializing markers to infer legal status and eligibility to access health-promoting resources. Our findings highlight women's use of both individual and collective action to navigate exclusionary policies and processes, working to: (1) maintain access to health-promoting resources; (2) limit labeling and stigmatization; and (3) mitigate adverse impacts of immigrant policing on health and well-being. The strategies women engaged were shaped by both the immigration processes and structures they confronted, and the resources to which they had access to within their social network. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a complex interplay of immigration-related policies and processes, social networks, and health-relevant resources. They highlight the importance of inclusive policies to promote health for immigrant communities. These findings illuminate women's agency in the context of structural violence facing immigrant women and are particularly salient in the face of anti-immigrant rhetoric and exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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19. Illuminating health aspects for immigrant Thai women in Swedish transnational marriages.
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Pongthippat, Weerati, Östlund, Gunnel, Darvishpour, Mehrdad, Kijsomporn, Jureerat, and Gustafsson, Lena-Karin
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THAI people ,WOMEN immigrants ,EMIGRATION & immigration ,MARRIAGE ,HEALTH of immigrants ,PARISH nursing ,CRITICAL incident technique ,ADULTERY ,DATING violence - Abstract
Background: Women who are migrants experience discrimination and face major risks, including sexual exploitation, trafficking, and violence, which affect their health and well-being. This study explored critical health incidents experienced by immigrant Thai women in marriage migration. Methods: A qualitative explorative approach with in-depth interviews was used. Forty immigrant Thai women who currently or previously had a Swedish spouse were recruited for the study. An inductive critical incident technique was used to collect and analyze the data as the first step. In a second deductive step, the Newman system model was used to categorize health dilemmas. Results: The women reported 438 critical health incidents in five main areas. Psychological health dilemmas included emotional abuse, feeling overwhelmed due to family responsibilities and the stress of leaving family behind. Sociocultural health dilemmas included transnational family duties or not performing family duties. Physiological health dilemmas included experiencing physical violence and environmental, domestic or work accidents. Developmental health dilemmas included failing health, difficulties upholding the duties expected of a spouse in the target culture and caring for an elderly husband. Spiritual health dilemmas included critical incidents in which the women perceived themselves to have failed in their hopes and duties as a wife, which intensified their dependence on faith, particularly the Buddhist concept of karma. Conclusion: Professionals in health and welfare practices in Thailand together with professionals in Western countries who work with women in marriage migration situations need to recognize the psychological, sociocultural, physiological, developmental, and spiritual health dilemmas experienced by these women. Furthermore, civil organizations that meet Thai women in foreign countries, such as Buddhist cultural associations, would benefit from the multicultural knowledge revealed by the present study. This knowledge can facilitate healthcare and welfare support for women in marriage migration situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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20. Immigrant assimilation in health care utilisation in Spain.
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Ferre, Zuleika, Triunfo, Patricia, and Antón, José-Ignacio
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MEDICAL care use ,ASSIMILATION of immigrants ,HEALTH of immigrants ,EMIGRATION & immigration ,MEDICAL care ,LABOR market - Abstract
Abundant evidence has tracked the labour market and health assimilation of immigrants, including static analyses of differences in how foreign-born and native-born residents consume health care services. However, we know much less about how migrants' patterns of healthcare usage evolve with time of residence, especially in countries providing universal or quasi-universal coverage. We investigate this process in Spain by combining all the available waves of the local health survey, which allows us to separately identify period, cohort, and assimilation effects. We find robust evidence of migrant assimilation in health care use, specifically in visits to general practitioners and emergency care and among foreign-born women. The differential effects of ageing on health care use between foreign-born and native-born populations contributes to the convergence of utilisation patterns in most health services after 15 years in Spain. Substantial heterogeneity by the time of arrival and by region of origin both suggest that studies modelling future welfare state finances would benefit from a more thorough assessment of migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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21. Lessons Learned from Immigrant Health Cohorts: A Review of the Evidence and Implications for Policy and Practice in Addressing Health Inequities among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
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Guan, Alice, Talingdan, AC S., Tanjasiri, Sora P., Kanaya, Alka M., and Gomez, Scarlett L.
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HEALTH of immigrants ,ASIAN Americans ,PACIFIC Islanders ,HAWAIIANS ,HEALTH equity ,EMIGRATION & immigration ,HEALTH policy - Abstract
The health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) is uniquely impacted by structural and social determinants of health (SSDH) shaped by immigration policies and colonization practices, patterns of settlement, and racism. These SSDH also create vast heterogeneity in disease risks across the AANHPI population, with some ethnic groups having high disease burden, often masked with aggregated data. Longitudinal cohort studies are an invaluable tool to identify risk factors of disease, and epidemiologic cohort studies among AANHPI populations have led to seminal discoveries of disease risk factors. This review summarizes the limited but growing literature, with a focus on SSDH factors, from seven longitudinal cohort studies with substantial AANHPI samples. We also discuss key information gaps and recommendations for the next generation of AANHPI cohorts, including oversampling AANHPI ethnic groups; measuring and innovating on measurements of SSDH; emphasizing the involvement of scholars from diverse disciplines; and, most critically, engaging community members to ensure relevancy for public health, policy, and clinical impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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22. Our thanks to you.
- Author
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McIntosh, Christopher
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VOLUNTEER service ,HEALTH of LGBTQ+ people ,HEALTH of immigrants ,MENTAL health - Abstract
In this issue we see the return of our Perspectives series, which highlights first-person perspectives on topics relating to LGBTQ+ mental health, with a piece by Dr. Jame Agrippa Agapoff of the University of Hawai'i. Dr. D'souza's presentation on LGBTQ+ immigrant mental health was a highlight of this year's AGLP Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Lousiana. I would like to welcome two new members to our Editorial Board: Dr. Olakunli Oginni, PhD from Obafemi Awolowo University, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and Dr. Su Park, PhD, from Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore. [Extracted from the article]
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- 2022
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23. Immigrants' health education and economic behaviours: saving rates, social medical insurance and house purchase.
- Author
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You, Jialu and Zhang, Jinhua
- Subjects
HOUSE buying ,HEALTH insurance ,HEALTH education ,ECONOMICS education ,HEALTH of immigrants ,ENVIRONMENTAL literacy - Abstract
Healthy China is a crucial policy for advancing global health, addressing inequality between rural and urban health education, and helping the domestic markets recover after the COVID-19 outbreak. This study combines life cycle mechanisms and safety beliefs to evaluate the long-lasting values of health education. We employed data from the China Migration Dynamic Surveys to examine the economic behaviours of 720,900 immigrants using a robust empirical approach combining an Extended Regression Model (E.R.M.), Average Treatment Effects (A.T.E.), and heterogeneous treatment effects. We find that health education increases participation in social medical insurance and the likelihood of purchasing a house. In contrast, the relationship between health education and saving rates is non-linear effects. Empirically robust heterogeneous treatment effects account for heterogeneity in the previous and the younger generations, as well as urban and rural citizens' long-run effects of health education. This study's findings suggest that health education stimulates immigrants' consumption behaviours; however, extra health education is not desirable. Rural-urban citizenship acquisition bias is found to significantly affect health education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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24. Immigration-Related Discrimination and Mental Health among Latino Undocumented Students and U.S. Citizen Students with Undocumented Parents: A Mixed-Methods Investigation.
- Author
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Rodriguez, Victoria E., Enriquez, Laura E., Ro, Annie, and Ayón, Cecilia
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HISPANIC American students ,MENTAL health ,HEALTH of immigrants ,IMMIGRANT families ,UNDOCUMENTED immigrants ,UNDERGRADUATES ,HISPANIC Americans - Abstract
Research has consistently linked discrimination and poorer health; however, fewer studies have focused on immigration-related discrimination and mental health outcomes. Drawing on quantitative surveys (N = 1,131) and qualitative interviews (N = 63) with Latino undergraduate students who are undocumented or U.S. citizens with undocumented parents, we examine the association between perceived immigration-related discrimination and mental health outcomes and the process through which they are linked. Regression analyses identify an association between immigration-related discrimination and increased levels of depression and anxiety; this relationship did not vary by self and parental immigration status. Interview data shed light on this result as immigration-related discrimination manifested as individual discrimination as well as vicarious discrimination through family and community members. We contend that immigration-related discrimination is not limited to individual experiences but rather is shared within the family and community, with negative implications for the mental health of undocumented immigrants and mixed-status family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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25. Underprepared: influences of U.S. medical students' self-assessed confidence in immigrant and refugee health care.
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Stryker, Shanna D., Conway, Katharine, Kaeppler, Caitlin, Porada, Kelsey, Tam, Reena P., Holmberg, Peter J., and Schubert, Charles
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MEDICAL students ,HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH of refugees ,MEDICAL care ,MEDICAL schools ,EMIGRATION & immigration - Abstract
Background: United States (U.S.) census data from 2017 indicates that the percentage of persons born outside of the U.S. is increasing. However, no studies describe the amount of class time focused on immigrant and refugee health during medical school in the U.S. nor on incoming residents' confidence in providing culturally sensitive care. The objective of this study is to characterize final-year medical students' exposure to immigrant and refugee health and their confidence in caring for these populations. Methods: A voluntary, cross-sectional survey was sent electronically to fourth-year medical students at twelve U.S. medical schools in 2020, with 707 respondents (46% response rate). Questions addressed respondents' curricular exposure to immigrant and refugee health care during medical school and their confidence in providing culturally sensitive care. Chi-square tests were used to assess relationships between categorical variables, and odds ratios were calculated for dichotomized variables. Results: Most students (70.6%) described insufficient class time dedicated to culturally sensitive care, and many (64.5%) reported insufficient clinical exposure in caring for immigrants/refugees. The odds that incoming residents felt 'usually' or 'always' confident in their ability to provide culturally sensitive care to immigrants and refugees were higher in those with more class time on culturally sensitive care (OR 5.2 [3.6-7.4]), those with more clinical opportunities to care for immigrants and refugees (OR 7.2 [5.1-10.2]), and those who participated in a domestic low-resource or international elective (OR 1.4 [1.02-1.9]). More than half (55.3%) of respondents reported feeling 'not at all' or only 'sometimes' confident in their ability to provide culturally sensitive care to immigrants/refugees. Conclusions: Most fourth-year U.S. medical students entering residency feel unprepared to deliver culturally sensitive care to immigrants and refugees. This may be mediated by increased exposure to didactic curricula class time and/or experiential clinical activities, as those factors are associated with improved student confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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26. Designing for community engagement: user-friendly refugee wellness center planning process and concept, a health design case study.
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Solomon, Ellen, Joa, Brandon, Coffman, Shandon, Faircloth, Billie, Altshuler, Marc, and Ku, Bon
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PRODUCTION planning ,DESIGN thinking ,REFUGEES ,HEALTH services accessibility ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Background: Refugee and immigrant populations have diverse cultural factors that affect their access to health care and must be considered when building a new clinical space. Health design thinking can help a clinical team evaluate and consolidate these factors while maintaining close contact with architects, patients' community leaders, and hospital or institutional leadership. A diverse group of clinicians, medical students, community leaders and architects planned a clinic devoted to refugee and immigrant health, a first-of-its-kind for South Philadelphia. Methods: The planning process and concept design of this wellness center is presented as a design case study to demonstrate how principles and methods of human-centered design were used to create a community clinic. Design thinking begins with empathizing with the end users' experiences before moving to ideation and prototyping of a solution. These steps were accomplished through focus groups, a design workshop, and iterations of the center's plan. Results: Focus groups were thematically analyzed and generated two themes of access and resources and seven subthemes that informed the design workshop. A final floor plan of the wellness center was selected, incorporating priorities of all stakeholders and addressing issues of disease prevention, social determinants of health, and lifestyle-related illness that were relevant to the patient population. Conclusions: Design thinking methods are useful for health care organizations that must adapt to the needs of diverse stakeholders and especially populations that are underserved or displaced. While much has been written on the theory and stages of design thinking, this study is novel in describing this methodology from the beginning to the end of the process of planning a clinical space with input from the patient population. This study thus serves as a proof of concept of the application of design thinking in planning clinical spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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27. Transportation and language access as crucial pillars for an immigrant-inclusive 21st-century food security program.
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Park, Jin K and Yi, Stella S
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FOOD security ,PUBLIC health ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Though food insecurity has long been recognised to impact health, population-specific determinants of food insecurity have recently been studied systematically as an important public health concern. Indeed, while immigrant populations face particular challenges to equitable access to the food system, many of these concerns have not been systematically described. To this end, we critically review recent work that demonstrates the importance of transportation and language access as independent determinants of access to food for immigrant populations. Furthermore, we highlight proposals to mitigate barriers to access, including both academic and community-driven approaches to create overlapping institutional commitments for inclusive policymaking that meets the specific needs of diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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28. Migrant status disparities in blood pressure: a multiple mediation analysis of modifiable factors.
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Dalla Zuanna, Teresa, Batzella, Erich, Russo, Francesca, Pitter, Gisella, and Canova, Cristina
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FACTOR analysis ,BLOOD pressure ,BODY mass index ,HEALTH of immigrants ,ALCOHOL drinking ,ALCOHOL - Abstract
Background: We examined differences in blood pressure (BP) levels between first-generation immigrants and natives in adult residents in Northeast Italy, and investigated the role of lifestyle behaviors, body mass index (BMI), and education as potentially modifiable mediating factors. Methods: We included 20–69-year-old participants from the Health Surveillance Program of the Veneto Region (n = 37,710). Immigrants born in a high migratory pressure country (HMPC) were further grouped into geographical macro-areas. The outcomes were systolic BP (SBP) and hypertension. Multiple mediation analyses were performed to determine the contribution of each mediator of the SBP/migrant status association. Results: Of the 37,380 subjects included, 8.7% were born in an HMPC. BMI, education, alcohol, sweets and meat consumption were included as potential mediators. A small advantage in SBP was seen for immigrants compared to natives (β = – 0.71,95%CI – 1.30; – 0.10). The direct effect (net of the covariates) of immigrant status on SBP was a reduction of 1.62 mmHg (95%CI – 2.25; – 0.98). BMI played the highest suppressive role (β = 1.14,95%CI 0.99; 1.35), followed by education. Alcohol consumption amplified the health advantage of immigrants. The suppressing effect of BMI was particularly evident among women and North Africans compared to natives. Similar results were seen for hypertension rates. Conclusions: Although causation cannot be proven given the cross-sectional design, our findings identify BMI as the most effective target to preserve the health advantage of immigrants with respect to BP levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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29. Completing the time trade-off with respondents who are older, in poorer health or with an immigrant background in an EQ-5D-5L valuation study.
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Hansen, Tonya Moen, Stavem, Knut, and Rand, Kim
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HEALTH of immigrants ,LOGISTIC regression analysis ,VALUATION ,OLD age ,ODDS ratio - Abstract
Objectives: To determine the effects of age, immigrant background, and poor self-reported health in a general population sample on the probability of non-completion or slow completion of the time trade-off (TTO). Methods: We used data from an interrupted Norwegian EQ-5D-5L valuation study conducted between 2019 and 2020. All participants responded to background items, irrespective of completion. We used mixed effect logistic regression analysis to assess the effect of old age, poor health, and immigrant background on the probability of non-completion of the TTO, and, for those who completed the TTO, of slow completion times. Results: First experiences from a Norwegian valuation study were that 29 (5.5%) respondents failed to complete the TTO tasks. For those reporting age over 65 years, poor health, or an immigrant background, 12% failed to complete the TTO. Adjusted odds ratios for predictors of non-completion were statistically significant (age > 65 years, 8.3; EQ-VAS ≤ 50, 3.49; immigrant background, 4.56). Being over 65 years or with an immigrant background also predicted slow completion of both the introduction and TTO tasks. Conclusions: High age, poor health, and immigrant status increased the risk of not being able to complete the TTO tasks, and of slow completion. Higher non-completion rates and increased completion times suggest that elements of the TTO may be demanding for some respondent groups, with possible implications for representativeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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30. How mask gap impacts discrimination and anxiety during COVID‐19: A study on overseas Chinese during the first outbreak in 2020.
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Zhang, Xinyi, English, Alexander S., Kulich, Steve J., and Chen, Yuxian
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COVID-19 pandemic ,XENOPHOBIA ,OVERSEAS Chinese ,HEALTH of immigrants ,MEDICAL masks ,PERCEIVED discrimination ,ANXIETY - Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic brought unrelenting waves of xenophobia against people representing vulnerable populations, among them those identified as Asians or more specifically as Chinese. Although previous studies have found that some discriminatory actions against overseas Chinese were closely related to mask use during the pandemic, there is not much evidence that explicates what might be the social‐cultural triggers or impact of self‐other mask discrepancy. The current study aims to examine how a mask use gap impacts perceived discrimination and anxiety during the first outbreak of COVID‐19, and how perceived discrimination mediates the mask gap–anxiety relationship. This was operationalized by developing a new "mask gap" variable to capture the incongruent mask use norms between Chines and others around them in the host country. Data were collected from a cross‐sectional sample of Chinese (n = 745) residing in 21 countries from March to May 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic. Results showed the newly explicated "mask gap" variable was associated with a higher level of anxiety. In addition, perceived discrimination mediated the mask gap‐anxiety relationship. These findings advance both theoretical and practical understandings of how incongruent social norms impact discrimination and mental health during health threat events like the COVID‐19 pandemic. The results also suggest important implications for both societal responses and the mental health of sojourners or immigrants during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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31. Promoting Psychosocial Well-Being and Empowerment of Immigrant Women: A Systematic Review of Interventions.
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Silva, Patricia and Pereira, Henrique
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WOMEN immigrants ,COGNITIVE restructuring therapy ,WELL-being ,WOMEN'S empowerment ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
This systematic review (SLR), based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, aims to present a current overview of interventions aimed at promoting the psychosocial well-being and/or empowerment (PWE) of immigrant women in order to guide future projects. Data collection was performed in the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases, with studies published between 2012 and 20 March 2023 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on the PICO guidelines: (P) immigrant women, (I) interventions to improve PWE, (C) comparison between the initial and final phases, and (O) evaluated results for PWE. Risk of bias was assessed, and most of the studies met more than 80% of the JBI bias criteria and had moderate quality on GRADE. Thirteen studies with 585 participants were included, mostly non-randomized, non-equivalent, and with an experimental-control group design. The main components of interventions were health education/psychoeducation, counseling, cognitive restructuring, and expressive therapies. A descriptive synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data was made to evaluate the results of the interventions in PWE. In the experimental studies, results assessed improvements mainly in mood and depression levels, and stress reduction. Empowerment components were less covered. Experimental groups performed better in almost all variables in the comparison with control groups. The strongest interventions were psychoeducation and cognitive restructuring techniques. The main limitations of the studies were the lack of quality of several studies, sample size and representativeness, language, and the possibility of response bias. Even taking this into account, this article makes an original contribution by advocating for evidence-based practice and offering significant implications for health professionals, policy makers, and researchers that work with the integrative health of immigrant women. This SLR is registered in PROPESRO Registration: CRD42023399683. PS is a research fellow of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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32. Immigrant Access to Health Care and the Right to Health: What Is the Position of Bioethics?
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Kara, Mahmut Alpertunga
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RIGHT to health ,HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH services accessibility ,BIOETHICS ,UNDOCUMENTED immigrants ,PUBLIC health ethics - Published
- 2023
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33. Health Across Borders: A Crossnational Comparison of Immigrant Health in Europe.
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Sheftel, Mara Getz, Margolis, Rachel, and Verdery, Ashton M.
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HEALTH of immigrants ,FAMILY support ,OLDER people ,MIDDLE age ,AGING parents ,RETIREMENT age ,REGIONAL differences - Abstract
The immigrant population in Europe is aging. We examine whether immigrants aged 50 and older in Europe are disadvantaged in terms of multiple health domains, what drives the potential immigrant health disadvantage, and whether such differences are contextually dependent or a general feature of the immigrant experience in Europe. To do this, we use the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to estimate physical, mental, and social health of middle age and older adults by nativity in 19 countries including ~ 176,000 person-years of data. We examine whether nativity-based health disparities can be attributed to demographic composition, socioeconomic factors, family support, and life course timing of migration. Last, we examine regional differences in nativity-based health disparities. We find that immigrants aged 50 and above in Europe are more likely to report fair/poor physical health, score worse on the EURO-D depression scale, and are more likely to be lonely than the native-born. Socioeconomic status and age-at-migration partially explain these health differences, although immigrant health disparities remain after accounting for these and other factors. We document contextual variation within Europe. Immigrants in Eastern, Western and Northern Europe are disadvantaged compared to native-born adults in those regions, while immigrants in Southern Europe are in comparable health to their native-born peers. This article offers new insights into the ways that aging immigrant populations will reshape older adult health profiles throughout Europe. Our empirical evidence informs policy makers, ensuring health systems adapt to support the needs of an increasingly diverse older adult population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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34. Immigrant-focused Medical Legal Partnerships: A Practical Innovation to Improve Immigrant Health and Social Well-being.
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Ramos, Athena K., Deal, Anna, Quintero, Sophia A., and Wilson, Fernando A.
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HEALTH of immigrants ,MEDICAL partnership ,WELL-being ,SOCIAL determinants of health ,EMIGRATION & immigration - Abstract
The Problem: Immigration status is an important social determinant of health that can limit access to health care and related services. Few medical legal partnerships (MLPs) address immigration-related legal needs of patients. Purpose of Article: An immigrant-focused MLP (IMLP) addresses immigration legal needs and provides advice to vulnerable patient-clients and their families regarding potential legal consequences of accessing health care and other public benefits. In this article, we outline the core elements of an IMLP and provide case examples from our ongoing IMLPs. Key Points: Although many of the core elements of an IMLP are similar to those of an MLP, an IMLP focuses specifically on immigration-related legal needs of patient-clients. IMLPs can complement and extend MLP services by providing legal assistance to non-citizen immigrant individuals and mixed status families. Conclusions: IMLPs may improve immigrant patient-clients' health and social well-being and create eligibility for public benefits. An IMLP can be a scalable innovation to improve access to health and legal services. Challenges to institutionalizing an IMLP may include limited sustainable funding, few legal service providers with immigration expertise and capacity, patient-client identification, and the politicized nature of immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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35. Beyond the classroom: The development of collective structural competency in pro-migrant activism.
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Piñones-Rivera, Carlos, Liberona, Nanette, Jiménez, Verónica, Corona, Marioly, and García, Eduardo
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IMMIGRANTS ,NOMADS ,SOCIAL determinants of health ,COLLECTIVE efficacy ,FOCUS groups ,PROFESSIONS ,SOCIAL change ,DISCRIMINATION (Sociology) ,LEADERS ,COMMUNITY support ,ANTHROPOLOGY ,SOCIAL stigma ,VOLUNTEERS ,ETHNOLOGY research ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,PSYCHOSOCIAL factors ,OUTCOME-based education ,PROFESSIONAL competence ,INTERPROFESSIONAL relations ,RESEARCH funding ,POLITICAL participation ,CURRICULUM planning ,HEALTH equity ,MEDICAL education - Abstract
Structural competency proposals have been developed as part of an effort to infuse clinical training with a structural focus. Framed in the context of medical education, the discussion on structural competency naturally emphasises the development of such competency in healthcare workers. In this article, we shift the focus to reflect on how the work of migrant community leaders may involve the development of structural competencies and what can be learned from this complementary perspective. We analysed the development of structural competency in an immigrant rights organisation in northern Chile. We conducted focus groups with migrant leaders and volunteers and used the tools proposed by the Structural Competency Working Group to facilitate dialogue. This allowed us to verify the development of structural competency and other collective competencies, including the capacity to create a protected space for circulating experiences and knowledge; coordinate a heterogeneous group of agents; have a socio-legal impact; and maintain autonomy concerning ideological production. This article introduces the concept of collective structural competency and reflects on the importance of expanding beyond the common medical-centred approach when considering structural competency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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36. CHILD IMMIGRANT POST-MIGRATION MENTAL HEALTH: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY INTO CAREGIVERS' PERSPECTIVES.
- Author
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Fakhari, Nahal, McIsaac, Jessie-Lee D., and Spencer, Rebecca
- Subjects
CAREGIVER attitudes ,MENTAL health ,IMMIGRANT families ,IMMIGRANT children ,CHILDREN'S health ,CHILDREN of immigrants ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Immigrant families and their children experience isolation after migration to Canada. Inadequate income, unemployment, and underemployment have all been identified as primary challenges to the mental health of immigrant families. This study qualitatively explored the perceptions of six Middle Eastern immigrant caregivers regarding their children's post-migration mental health. The research was situated in the constructivist paradigm, and qualitative descriptive design was used to explore participant experiences. Interviews were conducted in English with three Farsi-speaking and three Arabic-speaking caregivers. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed. Three themes were developed: (a) parents feel their children are isolated and lonely; (b) caregivers' limited access to resources impacts their children's mental health; and (c) community connections enhance families' mental health. Findings suggest children's experiences with family separation and exposure to racism contributed to children's loneliness. Children's isolation was exacerbated by caregivers' limited access to resources to support their children's transition into Canada. Caregivers identified social support as an asset to their families' mental health. This research highlights the importance of culturally responsive health, employment, and education policies, together with programs to provide resources for immigrant families to support their children's mental health after migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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37. Chinese Immigrants' Health Beliefs and Practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine in British Columbia of Canada.
- Author
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Wu, Tina
- Subjects
CHINESE medicine ,CHINESE people ,HEALTH of immigrants ,MENTAL health services ,COVID-19 - Abstract
Objective: This study is to address the health beliefs and health behavior of Chinese immigrants residing in the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia (BC) Province in Canada. This article discussed Chinese immigrants' traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use, health beliefs, and health behaviors. Methods: Information used in this study is based on data collected in the Chinese-speaking community in the Greater Vancouver area of BC in 2020–2022. Quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to this study. The first stage recruited 314 participants for the quantitative study to cross-validate an instrument tool, followed by the 2nd stage of 20 stratified random sampling out of the 314 participants for TCM-related in-depth qualitative interviews. This study focuses on the second stage of TCM qualitative interviews. Results: Results indicated that TCM health beliefs have cultural and spiritual meanings tied to the Chinese-speaking participants. There are barriers for the Chinese-speaking population to access the existing healthcare services due to their TCM health beliefs and other health needs, for example, family doctors, integrated medicine for better health outcomes, and mental health services especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Conclusion: Integrating TCM health beliefs and behaviors of Chinese-speaking immigrants into existing Canadian mainstream health services are strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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38. Assessment of the quality and content of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for vitamin D and for immigrants using the AGREE-II instrument: a protocol for systematic review.
- Author
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Yousef, Said, Hayawi, Lamia, Manuel, Douglas, Colman, Ian, Papadimitropoulos, Manny, Hossain, Alomgir, Faris, Moez AlIslam, and Wells, George A.
- Subjects
VITAMIN D ,NUTRITION counseling ,HEALTH of immigrants ,BIRTHPLACES ,GREY literature - Abstract
Introduction: Worldwide, more immigrants experience vitamin D (vitD) deficiency than non-immigrants, which is attributed to ethnic variations, place or region of birth, skin pigmentation, clothing style, and resettlement-related changes in diet, physical activity, and sun exposure. Current recommendations in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) concerning vitD are inadequate to address vitD deficiency among immigrants. CPGs may also lack guidance for physicians on vitD supplementation for immigrants. Moreover, there are concerns about the overall quality of these CPGs. Objectives: This systematic review will collate and critically appraise CPGs relevant to immigrants' health and vitD. Moreover, we will evaluate whether the CPGs of vitD including recommendations for immigrants and clarify whether the CPGs of immigrants include recommendations on vitD. Methods: A systematic search of Ovid MEDLINE® ALL, EMBASE, and Turning Research Into Practice (TRIP) electronic databases, guideline repositories, and gray literature will be conducted to identify relevant CPGs. Two reviewers will independently evaluate the methodological quality of the retrieved guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation-II (AGREE-II) instrument. CPGs scoring ≥60% in at least four domains, including "rigor of development," will be considered high quality. Conclusion: Evaluating the quality and content of relevant CPGs may support researchers in developing national and global guidelines for immigrants. Furthermore, it may support vitD testing, nutritional counseling, and supplementation for vulnerable immigrant sub-populations. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42021240562. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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39. Governing Through Ignorance: Swedish Authorities' Treatment of Detained and Non-deported Migrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Author
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Lindberg, Annika, Lundberg, Anna, Rundqvist, Elisabet, and Häythiö, Sofia
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IMMIGRANTS' rights ,HEALTH of immigrants ,COVID-19 pandemic ,EMIGRATION & immigration - Abstract
Tensions between migration enforcement and migrants' health and rights have gained renewed urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article critically analyses how the pandemic has affected detained and deportable people in Sweden. Building on an activist methodological approach and collaboration, based on a survey conducted inside Swedish detention centres during the pandemic and the authors' research and activist engagement with migrants who are detained or legally stranded in Sweden, we argue that migration authorities' inadequate measures to protect detained and deportable people during the pandemic is a case of governance through ignorance enabled by structural racism. The article traces how this ignorance operates on a structural, institutional and micro-level, enabling public disregard and political irresponsibility for the harmful effects of migration enforcement. A broader aim of the article is to challenge the structural, societal and epistemic ignorance of the conditions for detained and deportable persons and to contribute to political change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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40. Legal status history, gender, and the health of Latino immigrants in the US.
- Author
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León‐Pérez, Gabriela, Patterson, Evelyn J., and Coelho, Larissa
- Subjects
LEGAL history ,STATUS (Law) ,HEALTH of immigrants ,SOCIAL status ,SOCIAL determinants of health - Abstract
Legal status is a social determinant of health and also a dynamic characteristic that can change over time. Using longitudinal data from the New Immigrant Survey, this study examines whether prior legal status is related to Latino immigrants' self‐rated health (SRH) at the time of gaining US lawful permanent residence and if the relationship remains years later. Findings show that legal status history interacts with gender to shape the health of new legal immigrants and that the relationship changes over time. Male new arrivals exhibited better initial SRH than those with prior US experience, but the disparity disappeared by the follow‐up interview (3–6 years later). Women who were previously documented reported better follow‐up SRH than their counterparts, suggesting a process of cumulative advantage. In sum, different starting points on new legal immigrants' migration histories can impact their health outcomes in the short‐ and long‐term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Do immigrants' health advantages remain after unemployment? Variations by race‐ethnicity and gender.
- Author
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Zheng, Hui and Yu, Wei‐hsin
- Subjects
HEALTH of immigrants ,UNEMPLOYMENT & health ,HEALTH & race ,ASIANS ,HEALTH of Black people ,MEXICANS ,HEALTH of Latin Americans ,SMOKING - Abstract
Immigrants tend to display more favorable health outcomes than native‐born co‐ethnics. At the same time, they face considerable employment instability. It is unclear whether immigrants' job conditions may compromise their health advantage. Using U.S. National Health Interview Survey data, this study shows that the experience of unemployment reduces immigrants' health advantage, but unemployed foreign‐born Blacks, White women, and Asian women still have lower mortality rates than their native‐born employed counterparts. Overall, unemployment is less detrimental to immigrants than to natives, and immigrants' "survival advantage after unemployment" persists as their duration of residence extends. We further find substantial heterogeneity in the unemployment effect within immigrants. Asian immigrants display a much sharper gender difference in the mortality consequence of unemployment than other immigrants. Asian men's worse general health and substantially higher smoking rate, especially among the unemployed, lead them to fare much worse than Asian women following unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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42. Understanding the sexual and reproductive health needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada: A qualitative study.
- Author
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Meherali, Salima, Louie-Poon, Samantha, Idrees, Sobia, Kauser, Samar, Scott, Shannon, Salami, Bukola, Valliantos, Helen, Meherali, Kainat Moez, Patel, Krishan, Suthar, Puja, Akbarzada, Zohra, Marcus, Ivan, Khangura, Manjot, and Mangat, Abneet
- Subjects
HEALTH of immigrants ,REPRODUCTIVE health ,TEENAGERS ,QUALITATIVE research - Abstract
Background: Literature suggests that immigrant adolescents receive limited sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and rarely utilize SRH services in Canada. This study sought to explore the SRH information needs of immigrant adolescents in the province of Alberta. Methods: A qualitative descriptive methodology was undertaken to conduct 21 individual interviews with immigrant adolescents in Alberta. Results: A total of four themes emerged from the interviews: (1) Barriers to SRH; (2) needs of adolescents regarding SRH; (3) sources of knowledge; and (4) strategies to improve SRH. Our findings document the conflicting needs and preferences between adolescents and their parents regarding access to SRH resources and services. Discussion: Adolescents often felt unprepared to deal with their SRH issues due to socio-cultural barriers and conflicts with their parents' conservative attitude toward SRH concerns. Structural barriers to accessing SRH resources and services were also reported, including the location and cost of services. As a result, the majority of adolescents relied on digital methods to receive SRH information. Conclusion: This study highlights that future research and SRH service provider efforts need to remain cognizant of the positionality of immigrant adolescents and explore innovative ways to deliver SRH resources and services that meet their unique needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Going "beyond the mean" in analyzing immigrant health disparities.
- Author
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Berloffa, Gabriella and Paolini, Francesca
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HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH equity ,SPECIES distribution ,MEDICAL care costs ,QUANTILE regression ,PUBLIC health - Abstract
BACKGROUND On arrival, immigrants are on average healthier than Italian natives, but their health advantage tends to dissipate over time. This constitutes a relevant public health issue for the hosting societies, as it implies higher health care costs, lower labor market participation among immigrants, and lower tax revenues. OBJECTIVE This study is the first to take a "beyond the mean" perspective in analyzing health differences between Italians and short-say immigrants, as well as between short- and long-stay immigrants. It highlights whether health differences are concentrated in specific parts of the distributions and which observed or unobserved factors contribute to these differences. METHODS We use unconditional quantile regressions combined with Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions on data from the Italian Health Condition Survey. RESULTS We find that the health advantage of short-stay immigrants over both Italians and longstay immigrants is concentrated in the lower part of the health distributions. In both cases, this is mainly due to unobserved factors. Observed economic characteristics are actually associated with better health for long-stay immigrants compared to short-stay immigrants. Our results reveal the need of monitoring immigrants' health, particularly of those with poorer initial health conditions. CONTRIBUTION We examine immigrant health disparities across the entire health distribution. This helps in shaping effective health policies. Policy interventions should be tailored to immigrants with poor health conditions, for example, by improving their access to the health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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44. Health inequalities in Germany: differences in the 'Healthy migrant effect' of European, non-European and internal migrants.
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Holz, Manuel
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HEALTH equity ,HEALTH of immigrants ,MENTAL health ,GERMANS ,INTERNAL migration - Abstract
The present study aims at comparing physical and mental health outcomes of different migrant groups and the native German population, testing for the presence of a healthy migrant effect (HME) and its potential differences between groups. The HME is marked by an observed health advantage for migrants compared to the host population, which declines with increasing years since migration. Macroeconomic, institutional and cultural differences of sending countries or regions define the pre-migration and the host country situation differently for European, Non-European and internal migrants. These conditions are assumed to have an impact on initial health differences as well as on health differences after longer exposure to the host country. Using cross-sectional data from the 2016 wave of the German Socioeconomic Panel, physical and mental health outcomes (generated from the SF-12) are compared between recent international and internal migration groups (≤10 years since migration), non-recent international and internal migration groups (>10 years since migration) and the native German-born population without migration experience. Propensity score matching analyses reveal the presence of a HME for both European and Non-European migrants, but not for internal migrants. This effect differs on the outcome measure and the native comparison group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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45. HIV Surveillance and Research for Migrant Populations: Protocol Integrating Respondent-Driven Sampling, Case Finding, and Medicolegal Services for Venezuelans Living in Colombia.
- Author
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Wirtz, Andrea L., Page, Kathleen R., Stevenson, Megan, Guillén, José Rafael, Ortíz, Jennifer, López, Jhon Jairo, Ramírez, Jhon Fredy, Quijano, Cindy, Vela, Alejandra, Moreno, Yessenia, Rigual, Francisco, Case, James, Hakim, Avi J., Hladik, Wolfgang, and Spiegel, Paul B.
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MEDICAL protocols ,VENEZUELANS ,EPIDEMIOLOGICAL research ,HIV infections ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Background: Epidemiologic research among migrant populations is limited by logistical, methodological, and ethical challenges, but it is necessary for informing public health and humanitarian programming. Objective: We describe a methodology to estimate HIV prevalence among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling, a nonprobability sampling method, was selected for attributes of reaching highly networked populations without sampling frames and analytic methods that permit estimation of population parameters. Respondent-driven sampling was modified to permit electronic referral of peers via SMS text messaging and WhatsApp. Participants complete sociobehavioral surveys and rapid HIV and syphilis screening tests with confirmatory testing. HIV treatment is not available for migrants who have entered Colombia through irregular pathways; thus, medicolegal services integrated into posttest counseling provide staff lawyers and legal assistance to participants diagnosed with HIV or syphilis for sustained access to treatment through the national health system. Case finding is integrated into respondent-driven sampling to allow partner referral. This study is implemented by a local community-based organization providing HIV support services and related legal services for Venezuelans in Colombia. Results: Data collection was launched in 4 cities in July and August 2021. As of November 2021, 3105 of the target 6100 participants were enrolled, with enrollment expected to end by February/March 2022. Conclusions: Tailored methods that combine community-led efforts with innovations in sampling and linkage to care can aid in advancing health research for migrant and displaced populations. Worldwide trends in displacement and migration underscore the value of improved methods for translation to humanitarian and public health programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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46. The effect of informal caregiving on physical health among non-migrants and Ethnic German Immigrants in Germany: a cohort analysis based on the GSOEP 2000-2018.
- Author
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Georges, Daniela
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CARE of people ,HEALTH of immigrants ,CAREGIVERS ,HEALTH - Abstract
Background: The number of people in need of care in Germany has been rising since decades, which is related to an increasing need and relevance of informal caregiving. Likewise, the number of people with a migration background has been increasing. This study aims to analyse the impact of informal caregiving on physical health in comparative perspective for Ethnic German Immigrants (EGI) - the largest and oldest immigrant group in Germany - and non-migrant Germans (NMG).Methods: The sample was drawn from the years 2000-2018 of the German Socio-Economic Panel (n = 26,354). NMG (n = 24,634) and EGI (n = 1,720) were categorized into non-caregivers (n = 24,379) and caregivers (n = 1,975), where the latter were distinguished by 1) their caregiving status and history (current, former, and never caregiver) and 2) the number of years in the caregiver role. Generalized Estimating Equations were applied to examine main effects and the interaction effects of caregiving status and migration background for changes in physical health (n = 102,066 observations).Results: Adjusting for socioeconomic, household related, and individual characteristics, NMG and EGI had similar caregiving patterns and physical health. However, the interaction between migration background and caregiving revealed significantly higher declines in physical health for currently caregiving EGI. Sensitivity analyses indicated that particularly socioeconomic resources moderated this effect.Conclusions: Findings suggest that caregiving is associated with declines in physical health, particularly in the long term and for EGI. This implies that care-related disadvantages accumulate over time and that the association of caregiving, health and associated determinants are culturally diverse and shaped by migration background. Both the health disadvantages of caregivers and EGI might be mitigated by a positive social and socioeconomic setting, which highlights the relevance of supporting structures and benefits for these subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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47. Critical analysis of the main discourses of the Spanish press about the rescue of the ship Aquarius.
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Lirola, María Martínez
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CRITICAL discourse analysis ,ELECTRONIC newspapers ,HEALTH of immigrants ,NEWSPAPERS ,NONGOVERNMENTAL organizations ,DISCOURSE analysis ,SHIPS - Abstract
This article presents an analysis of the main discourses that appear in a sample of Spanish newspapers before and after the arrival of the Aquarius at the port of Valencia in June 2018, in order to observe if there is a solidarity discourse or one that rejects the arrival of the rescued immigrants in Spain. The corpus consists of all the news published from June 10 to July 10, 2018 in the electronic version of the Spanish newspapers ABC, El Mundo, El País and La Vanguardia. The methodology is mainly qualitative-descriptive. Critical discourse analysis (CDA) was chosen to observe the main linguistic characteristics of the collected news items and the topics that appear in the articles. The analysis shows that the testimonies of politicians and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) predominate, but there are few testimonies of immigrants. The solidarity and acceptance of Spain are strengthened, as well as the defense of human rights. This contrasts with the discourses that the press presents after the arrival of the ship in Valencia. A discourse related to the health of immigrants and their need for help and resources predominates, a fact that contributes to the alarm of the majority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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48. Effect of self-employment on the sub-health status and chronic disease of rural migrants in China.
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Zhou, Jian, Wu, Qiushi, and Wang, Zicheng
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IMMIGRANTS ,SELF-employment ,CHRONIC diseases ,HEALTH of immigrants - Abstract
Background: Rural migrants usually suffer from major disease risks, but little attention had been paid toward the relationship between self-employment behavior and health status of rural migrants in China. Present study aims to explore the causal effect of self-employment behavior on rural migrants' sub-health status and chronic disease. Two research questions are addressed: does self-employment status affect the sub-health status and chronic disease of rural migrants? What is potential mechanism that links self-employment behavior and health status among rural migrants in China?Methods: The dataset from the 2017 National Migrants Population Dynamic Monitoring Survey (NMPDMS-2017) was used to explore the causal effect. Logit regression was performed for the baseline estimation, and linear probability model with instrument variable estimation (IV-LPM) was applied to correct the endogeneity of self-employment. Additionally, logit regression was conducted to explore the transmission channel.Results: Self-employed migrants were more susceptible to sub-health status and chronic disease, even when correcting for endogeneity. Moreover, self-employed migrants were less likely to enroll in social health insurance than their wage-employed counterparts in urban destinations.Conclusion: Self-employed migrants were more likely to suffer from sub-health status and chronic disease; thus, their self-employment behavior exerted a harmful effect on rural migrants' health. Social health insurance may serve as a transmission channel linking self-employment and rural migrants' health status. That is, self-employed migrants were less prone to participate in an urban health insurance program, a situation which leaded to insufficient health service to maintain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
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49. Health literacy and e-health literacy among Arabic-speaking migrants in Sweden: a cross-sectional study.
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Bergman, Lina, Nilsson, Ulrica, Dahlberg, Karuna, Jaensson, Maria, and Wångdahl, Josefin
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HEALTH literacy ,HEALTH of immigrants ,HEALTH information exchanges ,MINORITIES - Abstract
Background: Health inequities arise when the public cannot access and understand health information in an easy, accessible, and understandable way. Evidence supports that health literacy (HL) is a determinant for health outcomes, and when HL is limited this may have a major impact on morbidity as well as mortality. Migrants are known to have limited HL. Therefore, this study aimed to explore comprehensive health literacy (CHL) and electronic health literacy (eHL) among Arabic-speaking migrants in Sweden.Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in Sweden. A total of 703 persons were invited to participate between February and September 2019. Two questionnaires - the Health Literacy Survey European Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) - and questions about self-perceived health and Internet use were distributed in Swedish and Arabic. Various statistical analyses were performed to determine the associations for limited CHL and eHL.Results: A total of 681 respondents were included in the analysis. Of these, 334 (49%) were native Arabic-speaking migrants and 347 (51%) were native Swedish-speaking residents. CHL and eHL differed between the groups. The Arabic speakers had significantly lower mean sum scores in eHL 28.1 (SD 6.1) vs 29.3 (6.2), p = 0.012 and lower proportion of sufficient CHL 125 (38.9%) vs 239 (71.3%), p < 0.001 compared to Swedish speakers. Multiple regression analysis showed on associations between limited CHL and eHL and being Arabic speaking, less Internet use, and not finding the Internet to be important or useful. Furthermore, longer time spent in Sweden was associated with higher levels of CHL among the Arabic speakers, (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.98, p < 0.01).Conclusions: CHL and eHL differ between Arabic-speaking migrants and native Swedish speakers, but also between Arabic speakers who have lived different lengths of time in Sweden. Though it seems that the eHealth literacy is less affected by language spoken, the Internet is suggested to be an appropriate channel for disseminating health information to Arabic-speaking migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
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50. Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center Provide Details of New Studies and Findings in the Area of CDC and FDA [Migrants On the Move and Food (In)Security: a Call for Research].
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ACADEMIC medical centers ,IMMIGRANTS ,HEALTH of minorities ,HEALTH of immigrants - Published
- 2023
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