SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Immigration”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Viral hepatitis B and C among immigrants in Iceland].

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis B and C are a major health problem worldwide. The prevalence of these diseases varies throughout the world. In Iceland, the incidence of hepatitis B and C has increased in recent years. At the same time, the number of immigrants from countries where viral hepatitis is endemic, has also increased. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C among immigrants in Iceland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immigrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) were screened for hepatitis B and C. Medical records for the years 2000-2002 were reviewed for country of origin, viral serology and liver transaminases. Information was gathered from the State Epidemiologist's central registry of notifiable diseases and from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration on the number of residence permits issued. RESULTS: 70% of all immigrants from countries outside the EEA during the study period were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from 2946 immigrants. 83 (2.8%) had hepatitis B and 24 (0.8%) had hepatitis C. Prevalence of hepatitis B was highest among immigrants from Africa,11/171 (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.3-11.2%) and hepatitis C among immigrants from Eastern Europe, 16/1502 (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.6-1.7%). 482 (16%) had serological markers of previous hepatitis B infection. Of all registered cases of hepatitis B, immigrants were 56% and of hepatitis C 10%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Majority of those diagnosed with hepatitis B during the study period were immigrants. 2. Among immigrants, hepatitis B was more prevalent than hepatitis C. 3) The high prevalence of hepatitis B justifies screening for the disease in this population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Aggregates of resident bacteria facilitate survival of immigrant bacteria on leaf surfaces.

The fate of immigrant bacterial cells on leaves under stressful conditions was determined as a function of the anatomical features and the local spatial density of resident cells at their landing site. Pantoea agglomerans 299R was established on bean leaves and the survival of immigrant cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens A506 and Pseudomonas syringae B728a, as well as P. agglomerans itself, was determined by epifluorescence microscopy following subsequent exposure of plants to desiccation stress. Resident and immigrant bacterial strains constitutively expressed the cyan and the green fluorescent protein, respectively, and the viability of individual cells was assessed directly on leaf surfaces following propidium iodide staining. Although only a small fraction of the immigrant cells landed on established bacterial aggregates, their fate was usually strongly influenced by the presence of indigenous bacteria at the site at which they landed. Immigrants of P. agglomerans 299R or P. fluorescens A506 that arrived as solitary cells had about double the probability of survival when landing on aggregates formed by P. agglomerans 299R than when landing on uncolonized areas of the leaf surface. In contrast, the survival of P. syringae B728a was similar irrespective of whether it landed on colonized or uncolonized parts of a leaf. The nature of plant anatomical features at which immigrant bacteria landed also strongly influenced the fate of immigrant bacteria. The fraction of immigrant cells of each species tested that landed on veins, glandular trichomes, or epidermal cells altered by P. agglomerans that died was always less than when they landed on normal epidermal cells or at the base of hooked trichomes. Depending on the process by which immigrants arrive at a leaf, only a small fraction of cells may be deposited on existing bacterial aggregates. Although uncolonized sites differed greatly in their ability to influence the survival of immigrant cells, the fate of an immigrant bacterium will depend on the nature of the leaf structure on which it is deposited, and apparently indirectly on the amount of nutrients and water available at that site to support the development of bacterial aggregates.

Micronutrients↗

PubMed2004

Obesity among US immigrant subgroups by duration of residence.

CONTEXT: The prevalence of obesity has increased substantially since the 1980s. While immigrants are the fastest growing segment of the US population, little is known about obesity or clinician counseling about diet and exercise in this group. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of obesity among immigrant subgroups and quantify the magnitude of the association with duration of US residence, and to describe reported diet and exercise counseling by birthplace, race, and ethnicity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study using data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass index (BMI, measured as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) based on self-reported height and weight measurements, and self-reported rates of diet and exercise counseling. RESULTS: Of 32,374 respondents, 14% were immigrants. The prevalence of obesity was 16% among immigrants and 22% among US-born individuals. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 8% among immigrants living in the United States for less than 1 year, but 19% among those living in the United States for at least 15 years. After adjusting for age, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors, living in the United States for 10 to 15 and at least 15 years was associated with BMI increases of 0.88 and 1.39, respectively. The association for 15 years or more was significant for all immigrant subgroups except foreign-born blacks. Additionally, immigrants were less likely than US-born individuals to report discussing diet and exercise with clinicians (18% vs 24%, P<.001; 19% vs 23%, P<.001, respectively). These differences were not accounted for by sociodemographic characteristics, illness burden, BMI, or access to care among some subgroups of immigrants. CONCLUSIONS: Among different immigrant subgroups, number of years of residence in the United States is associated with higher BMI beginning after 10 years. The prevalence of obesity among immigrants living in the United States for at least 15 years approached that of US-born adults. Early intervention with diet and physical activity may represent an opportunity to prevent weight gain, obesity, and obesity-related chronic illnesses.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Younger age at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children of immigrated families born in Italy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the age of immigrants' children at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) according to their country of birth. Immigration from developing countries to a westernised area causes rapid changes in the environmental conditions, and we investigated whether the location of birth, either inside or outside Italy, is associated with age at diagnosis of diabetes. Out of a prevalent hospital-based cohort of 5718 T1DM children cared for in 2002 in 47 Italian Pediatric Diabetes Units, we recruited 195 children (M: 97) of immigrants from developing countries--119 were born in Italy and 76 outside the European Union. Children with only one immigrant parent (no. 42) were also included. Age at diagnosis of T1DM, and other variables were compared with those of Italian children. Children of immigrated families born in Italy developed T1DM at a median age of 4.0 yr (IQR 2.2-6.9), whereas those born in developing countries and that had immigrated to Italy after birth developed T1DM at a median age of 7.9 yr (IQR 5.1-10.7, p < 0.001). Among the children born in Italy, 77 had parents who were both immigrants and the children's median age at diagnosis was 3.8 yr (IQR 2.1-6.3); 42 had only one immigrant parent and, when it was the father (no. = 23), median age was even younger (2.9 yr, IQR 2.0-8.2). Ten children had immigrated in their first yr of life and their median age was 9.1 yr (IQR 5.0-10.6). The median age of the Italian children was 6.6 yr (IQR 3.6-9.5). Results show that the outbreak of T1DM is earlier in immigrants' children born in Italy than in original countries.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed2006

Insurance status and health service utilization among newly-arrived older immigrants.

Following the 1996 welfare reform, newly arrived older immigrants with less than 5 years of residence (NOIs) have been barred from Medicaid benefits. Neither are they eligible for Medicare due to lack of work history. This study examines the relationship between immigrant status (NOIs or not), health insurance, and health service use among older immigrants; whether insurance mediates the relationship between immigrant status and health service use. The 2000 National Health Interview Survey was analyzed. The sample includes respondents aged 65 or older who are foreign-born (N=1, 178). The adapted Andersen model was used. A series of logistic regressions show insurance is a complete mediator between immigrant status and health service use among older immigrants. Immigrant status was significantly related to the mediator, health insurance; older immigrants with longer than 5 years of residence were 31 times more likely than NOIs to have health insurance in terms of odds. Also, different from health service use among U.S.-born older adults, older immigrants' service use is significantly related to their insurance status. There was no direct relationship between immigrant status and health service use.

Aged↗

PubMed2007

Immigration-based disparities in adolescent girls' vulnerability to dating violence.

OBJECTIVES: Little data exists on dating violence among immigrant adolescents. The present study assessed disparities in experiences of physical and sexual dating violence based on immigrant status and language spoken at home among a large representative sample of adolescent girls. METHODS: Data from the 1997-2003 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (N = 7,970) were analyzed. Adjusted logistic regression analyses were conducted among the full sample and sexually active sub-sample. To further clarify immigration-based effects, separate analyses were conducted within age and racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS: Being an immigrant was found to be protective against dating violence (OR 0.77, CI 0.60-0.98), but not among those reporting sexual intercourse. Stratified analyses revealed important differences in these effects based on age and race/ethnicity; only immigrant girls age 16 or older (OR 0.69, CI 0.48-0.99) and Hispanic immigrant girls (ORs 0.39-0.54) reported reduced risk for dating violence as compared to their non-immigrants peers. No differences in vulnerability to dating violence were detected based on immigrant status for Asian, Black, or White adolescents in stratified analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The social context of immigration may offer protection regarding adolescent girls' vulnerability to dating violence, but effects are not uniform across age, sexual experience, or race and ethnicity. Additional research is needed to understand how immigration, social behavior, age, race and ethnicity may interact to produce disparities in vulnerability to gender-based violence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Tuberculosis in recent Asian immigrants to British Columbia, Canada: 1982-1985.

The prevalence and incidence of active tuberculosis among 21,959 recently arrived (1982-1985) immigrants from 7 selected Asian countries into British Columbia (BC), Canada, were reviewed. Among these newly arrived immigrants, 1173 (5.3%) were judged to have inactive tuberculosis at the immigration examination in their country of origin. In this subgroup, 14 of 932 (1.5%) were found to have active tuberculosis at the initial examination after arrival in Canada. Subsequently, 7 further cases arose in this group of inactive cases giving an average annual incidence rate of 0.33% over the 4-year period of study. Only 3 of these 21 cases had had previous antituberculosis chemotherapy. The remaining 20,786 recent immigrants with normal X-rays at the immigration examination contributed 30 cases during the next 4 years--an average annual incidence rate of 0.08% or 8 times the comparable rate for BC (0.01%). The limitations of the immigration screening process are illustrated and the value of early surveillance of immigrants designated as having inactive tuberculosis is underlined. The apparent failure to exclude active disease prior to the arrival of these immigrants is one factor elevating the incidence of active tuberculosis in the first few years after arrival in the host country. Other factors include the relatively high prevalence of inactive tuberculosis among the immigrants from certain countries and their high rate of early relapse after entry, especially in those not previously treated. Such immigrants should be considered for chemoprophylaxis immediately after entry.

Asia↗

PubMed1985

Mexican immigrants and the utilization of U.S. health services: the case of San Diego.

This paper examines survey data gathered from 2103 Mexican immigrants living or working in San Diego County, California, in order to explore four fundamental questions concerning the utilization of health services: (a) What type of health services do Mexican immigrants use? (b) When hospitals are used, do they tend to be emergency room services? (c) Do Mexican immigrants use preventive services? (d) To what extent do the utilization patterns of undocumented immigrants differ from their legally-immigrated counterparts? The socioeconomic profile of the sample is characterized through analysis of variables such as sex, age, length of residence in the U.S., occupation and income. Mexican immigrants, particularly the undocumented, are relatively young compared to the non-immigrant population, of short duration in the U.S. and earn low income. In addition, undocumented and legally-immigrated respondents are covered by medical insurance at rates far below the general population. Mexican immigrants, including the undocumented, use a variety of health services. Hospital services are not the primary source of care. However, when undocumented respondents did use hospital services, they were more likely to use emergency room care than their legally-immigrated counterparts, who were more likely to use out-patient services. Finally, undocumented respondents tended to neglect preventive services as evidenced by examination of the use of pre-natal care, general check-ups and dental services.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Epidemiological and clinical features in immigrant children with coeliac disease: an Italian multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: There are no available data concerning the incidence and the clinical pattern of coeliac disease in immigrant children coming to Italy from developing countries. AIMS: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features of coeliac immigrant children coming to Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospital records of 1917 children diagnosed in 22 Italian Centres from 1999 to 2001 as having coeliac disease were retrospectively reviewed, comparing immigrant patients versus Italian ones. RESULTS: 36/1917 (1.9%) coeliac children were immigrant. This prevalence was similar to that of the immigrant children among the whole paediatric population living in Italy. Prevalence was influenced by geographical factors, being higher in Northern Italy (1.7%) and in Central Italy (2.5%) than in Southern-Insular Italy (1.5%), as consequence of a higher proportion of immigrants in these regions. The native areas of the immigrant children were East Europe (15/36), Northern Africa (14/36), Southern Asia (4/36), West Africa (1/36), East Africa (1/36) and the Middle East (1/36). The clinical spectrum and dietary habits in immigrant patients were similar to those of the Italian children. CONCLUSIONS: Coeliac disease among the immigrant children coming from developing countries is an emerging problem, and physicians need to be fully aware of it. An important risk factor for coeliac disease in immigrant children appears to be sharing of the same dietary habits with the Italian population. The finding of coeliac disease in children coming from many countries worldwide suggests that coeliac disease is a global public health problem.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Depression trajectories in relatively recent immigrants.

This longitudinal study of 253 ever-depressed former Soviet immigrants (1) examined the life circumstances, demographic characteristics, and immigration demands of individuals whose depression lifted, or who remained or became depressed over a 2-year period; and (2) investigated whether immigration demands, local relatives, age at immigration, gender, education, employment, and marital status differed among the three groups. Depression was determined based on depression scores at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. Forty-three percent of the sample remained depressed, 26% became depressed, and 30% had their depression lift over the course of 2 years. The three groups did not differ with regard to demographic characteristics or loss of employment or a negative change in marital status over the 2-year study period. They did differ with respect to the presence of local family and immigration demands (P <.05). Those who remained depressed were less likely to have family in the area and had the highest immigration demand score at both time points. However, the effect for presence of local family was not significant when immigration demands were included in the analysis (P =.32). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures revealed that the group whose depression lifted experienced the greatest change in immigration demand scores over the 2-year study period. Our findings argue that clinicians should not expect immigrants' depression to always decrease over time and should assess depression by asking about immigration demands, even if depression was not present during an earlier clinical encounter.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Problems and proposals for improvement in the health care of economic immigrants].

OBJECTIVES: To analyse existing problems in health care to economic immigrants from the point of view of health and social professionals, health authorities and economic immigrants and to know which will be their proposals and priorities to improve economic immigrants's health assistance. METHODS: Qualitative approach study made in Majorca island. (Spain). Three focus groups and three nominal groups with health and social workers from primary health care and hospital services were carried out as well as two partially structured interviews to health authorities, one Autonomic Authority and one Governmental Authority, and twelve partially structured interviews to economic immigrants identified trough key informants. RESULTS: Health and social workers perceive the increase in the number of economic immigrants as a massive arrival. The main problems identified are: access restrictions to public health services for economic immigrants, the follow-up of these patients and diagnostic difficulties because lack of training in tropical medicine. Health and social workers's first proposal for improving this situation is their own training in tropical medicine. Autonomic Authority priorities are to guarantee access to public health services for all immigrants and to look actively for health problems in these population. Governmental Authority, instead, holds the legalization for all. In fact, economic immigrants are not concerned on health care because legalization and housing problems. CONCLUSIONS: The main barriers identified by health and social workers in health care to economic immigrants are: access restrictions, follow-up and lack of training in tropical medicine. Health and social first proposal to improve this situation is their own training in tropical medicine while Autonomic and Central Authorities's priorities are not the same. For economic immigrants, health assistance is not their biggest concern.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Profile of the hospital case mix of the immigrant population in Barcelona, Spain].

OBJECTIVE: Although the immigrant population in cities such as Barcelona has tripled in the last five years, until now the impact of this group on the health system has not been rigorously evaluated. The aim of this study was to compare hospital resource utilization among the immigrant population with that among the native population through case mix, demographic characteristics and hospital day use. MATERIAL AMD METHODS: We analyzed 15,057 discharges from Hospital del Mar in Barcelona in 2000. This hospital attends 60% of admissions from the Ciutat Vella district. In 2000, 21% of the population of this district were immigrants. Socio-demographic patient characteristics and case mix were compared between the immigrant and the native population. Hospital resource use was compared according to age, case mix (diagnosis related groups) and seriousness (severity, complications and comorbidities) of the events requiring medical care. RESULTS: The case mix of the immigrant population differed from that of the autochthonous population due to pronounced ge differences and a higher fertility rate. Thirty-three percent of immigrant admissions were for deliveries. The mean cost of discharge of immigrants from low-income countries was 30% lower than that for the remaining discharges. After adjusting for age, case mix and severity, length of stay among the immigrant population was significantly shorter. A 5% reduction was found after adjusting for case mix and a 10% reduction was found when all the factors were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Case mix differences are due to age and socio-cultural factors. Immigrants are rejuvenating the ageing native population and the role of gynecology-obstetrics and pediatrics needs to be increased. The finding that resource use per discharge is lower among immigrants from low-income countries contradicts the expectation that lower socioeconomic status leads to higher hospital resource use intensity. Therefore, new hypotheses and analyses that explain this situation should be put forward.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

The drinking of earlier and more recent Russian immigrants to Israel: comparison to other Israelis.

OBJECTIVES: Russia has a high level of per capita alcohol consumption, while the level in Israel is low. Since 1989, over 820,000 Russian Jews immigrated to Israel. In the 1970's and early 1980's, a smaller wave of immigration from Russia to Israel occurred (approximately 170,000). The drinking of earlier immigrants was compared to recent immigrants and other Israelis. METHODS: Data came from a 1995 national survey of Israeli household residents. Of 4984 Israeli respondents, 292 were Russian immigrants who arrived since 1989 and 131 were Russians who immigrated earlier. Groups were compared with logistic regression. RESULTS: Recent Russian immigrants were more likely to drink in the last 12 months, to drink frequently and to get drunk than other Israelis. The earlier Russian immigrants were not more likely than other Israelis to report drinking in the last 12 months or frequent drinking, but were more likely to report 30-day drinking and getting drunk. In direct comparison of recent and earlier Russians, recent immigrants reported more frequent drinking than earlier immigrants. CONCLUSIONS: The results for drinking and frequency of drinking are consistent with acculturation effects as well as other explanations. Further investigation in studies with appropriate designs will be necessary to clarify the meaning of these results.

Acculturation↗

PubMed2004

[Characteristics of immigrant women and their neonates].

BACKGROUND: Immigrant status is frequently assumed to constitute a health risk because migration is inevitably associated with a period of significant adjustment and stress. OBJECTIVE: To compare the social characteristics and perinatal outcomes of mothers who deliver in a third level hospital in Spain according to their socioeconomic level of the country of origin. METHODS: From December 2000 to March 2001, women who delivered were selected according to the socioeconomic status of their birth country. All women from low and middle income countries (immigrant mothers) and a sample (1:2) of those from high income countries (mainly Spanish-born mothers) completed a questionnaire on antenatal care, demographic and social characteristics, and country of birth and were followed-up to monitor neonatal clinical features. RESULTS: During the three months of the study, 203/1352 (15 %, CI 13.2-17.1) of the delivering mothers were immigrants. Most were from Central and South America (56 %, CI 49-62). Prenatal care was appropriate in most of the women (in 92.1 % of immigrant mothers and in 96.8 % of Spanish mothers, p 5 0.01). The proportions of premature births, low birth weight and very-low birth weight showed no statistically significant differences between immigrant and Spanish mothers (15 vs. 10.6, 6.4 vs. 9.4, and 2.1 vs. 1.5, respectively, p > 0.05 in all comparisons). Perinatal complications, including an Apgar score < or = 6, and the need for admission to the neonatal unit or to the intensive or intermediate care units, were not more frequent in the newborns of immigrant mothers. Immigrant women had less social or family support after delivery and maternity leave was much less frequent (62 % vs. 90 %, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the immigrant women had healthy pregnancies and healthy birth outcomes. Perinatal complications do not seem to be more frequent among immigrant women. Differences were found in social support. To improve the health of these children, social support to immigrant women and their children should be intensified.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Mental symptoms, psychotropic drug use and alcohol consumption in immigrated middle-aged women. The Women's Health in Lund Area (WHILA) Study.

This study aims to analyse mental symptoms, psychotropic drug use and alcohol consumption, in immigrant women born in Finland, the other Nordic countries, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and countries outside Europe, compared with Swedish-born women, and furthermore, to study if age at immigration may have an influence. All women (n=10,766) aged 50-59 years and living in the Lund area of southern Sweden received a postal invitation to a health survey named the Women's Health in Lund Area; 64.2% (n=6917) participated. The participants answered a questionnaire including prevalence of mental symptoms during the past 3 months, regular use of psychotropic drugs, alcohol consumption during an average week, country of birth and age at immigration. Severe mental symptoms were more common among most immigrant groups compared with native Swedes, but the association to country of birth was not significant after adjustment for possible confounders. Regular use of hypnotics was more common among Nordic immigrants only (odds ration, OR = 4.4). East European and non-European immigrants less often were alcohol consumers (OR = 1.6 and OR = 3.8). Heavy drinking was more common among non-Nordic immigrants who immigrated at a younger age than at an older age. Furthermore, it was found that although East European and non-European immigrants had a higher educational level, they were less often gainfully employed compared with native Swedes. In middle-aged women, country of birth as well as age at immigration are important factors to consider in relation to alcohol consumption, but these factors may be of less importance considering mental health.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences in relation to immigrant patients: a questionnaire study at a Danish hospital.

AIMS: A study was undertaken to identify variations in knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and communication among different categories of hospital staff with regard to immigrant patients in order to identify potential barriers for effective diagnosis, treatment, and care of immigrant patients. METHODS: The study is based on a questionnaire mailed to doctors, nurses, and assistant nurses at Bispebjerg Hospital, a major general hospital in Copenhagen. Among the 1,012 persons included the total response rate was 58%. RESULTS: A majority of all three professional groups obtain their knowledge on immigrants through the media and patient contact, and less through travels, courses, and colleagues. Doctors and nurses showed the most positive attitudes towards different statements about immigrants, and assistant nurses the most negative. Doctors and nurses also had most frequent contacts with immigrant patients and found their communication more satisfactory compared with assistant nurses. Many health workers expressed complaints about immigrants' inappropriate use of health services. That doctors and nurses had more positive attitudes towards immigrants than assistant nurses could be explained by their higher education providing a more "fundamental safety feeling", or a feeling of not being in a competitive situation with immigrants. Assistant nurses had the least satisfactory communication with immigrant patients, possibly because they had less frequent contacts compared with doctors and nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides a foundation for new interventions and priorities within the healthcare system regarding immigrant patients.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1988

Convergence of immigrant suicide rates to those in the destination country.

Factors influencing the 1969-1973 suicide rate in 25 immigrant groups in Canada were investigated. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for each group relative to the suicide rates in the origin country populations. Compared with their origin countries, immigrant females exhibited a significant increase in suicide rates (SMR = 1.11, p less than 0.01), whereas immigrant males did not (SMR = 0.98). Another set of standardized mortality ratios were then calculated for both origin and immigrant populations using the Canadian native-born rates as the standard. For the majority of immigrant groups, the standardized mortality ratios were significantly different from the ratios of their corresponding origin country populations, with 60% of the female immigrant groups and 41% of the male immigrant groups exhibiting higher ratios. Considerable variation was observed in the immigrant standardized mortality ratios, with a significant proportion of this variability being associated with the suicide rates in the origin countries (males r = 0.60, p less than 0.01; females r = 0.47, p less than 0.05). Using the standardized mortality ratios based on the Canadian native-born rates, the degree of "convergence" of immigrant suicide rates to the Canadian native-born rates was examined. Overall, significant convergence occurred for both sexes (p less than 0.01), with the immigrant suicide rates converging 40% of the initial difference between the standardized mortality ratios for the origin country and the Canadian native-born.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Definite and undetermined forensic diagnoses of suicide among immigrants in Sweden.

A total of 707 cases of violent death (suicide, undetermined mode or accident) occurring in 1990 were investigated at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Stockholm. The catchment area of the Department includes about 1.9 million people. Fourteen percent of the population in the area are immigrants. The largest single immigrant group was the 91,015 Finnish-born inhabitants, who represented 33% of the overall immigrant population. Thirty percent of all undetermined deaths and 20% of the suicides were among people born outside Sweden. A significant overrepresentation of the largest immigrant group (Finnish-born) was found in both the definite and undetermined suicide categories. There was also an overall overrepresentation of immigrants among the undetermined cases and a trend towards overrepresentation among definite suicides. Also, there was a significant overall overrepresentation of immigrants in the total cases of undetermined and definite suicide. Some psychosocial factors found predominant among the immigrant sample were social isolation, low social class and poor social network. The findings in this study indicates that immigrant status should be considered as a risk factor for suicide in Sweden. Previous reports on the high suicide rates among immigrants in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States suggest that the overrepresentation of immigrants found in our study could represent a worldwide epidemiological trend related to voluntary and forced migration. Possible hypotheses that could explain this phenomenon are discussed.

Adolescent↗