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PubMed2000

Cancer registry of French Polynesia: results for the 1990-1995 period among native and immigrant population.

We present the data of the Cancer Registry of French Polynesia (FP) for the 1990-1995 period, highlighting the difference between the incidences among inhabitants born in FP and in immigrants. A total of 1606 incident cases of cancer were registered during the 6-year period from 1990 to 1995, about 90% of which were histologically confirmed. Among these incident cases, 1361 occurred in native French Polynesians (FPs) and 245 in immigrants. Overall cancer incidence was found to be very slightly higher among women in the native population (209/10(5)) than among immigrants (191/10(5)), and lower among men in the native population (186/10(5)) than in the immigrants (241/10(5)). Cervix, corpus uteri, and thyroid cancer incidence rates were higher among women born in FP than among immigrant women. In contrast, colorectal cancer and melanoma incidences rates were lower, and colorectal cancer was similar. Laryngeal cancer incidence was higher among men born in FP than among immigrant men. In contrast, cancers of the oral cavity, colon and rectum, prostate gland, bladder and melanoma were less frequent. This first report, based on the data from the Cancer Registry of French Polynesia, shows high cancer incidence rates in females and low incidence in males born in FP, as compared to those recorded in France; and low cancer incidence rates, as compared to New Zealand Maoris and Hawaiians. For certain cancers, for example colorectal cancer, the incidence in the immigrant population seems to be between that of the native FP population and that of the population living in France, and lower than in New Zealand Maoris and Hawaiians.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

An examination of sociocultural factors associated with cervical cancer screening among low-income Latina immigrants of reproductive age.

The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to examine whether low-income Latina immigrants were less likely to receive a Pap smear than low-income non-Latinas; 2) to examine ethnic differences regarding cervical cancer knowledge; and 3) to examine the sociocultural factors associated with cervical cancer screening among low-income Latina immigrants. Participants included 225 low-income women of reproductive age attending a WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) clinic (50% Latina immigrants and 50% non-Latinas). Latina immigrants were less educated, less likely to have health insurance, and more likely to be married or living with a partner than non-Latinas (ps<0.05). All non-Latinas had a Pap smear in the past compared to 81.3% of Latina immigrants (p<0.001). Latina immigrants displayed significantly less knowledge regarding cervical cancer than non-Latinas (ps<0.01). Latina immigrants tended to display culturally based knowledge and beliefs regarding cervical cancer and screening that may influence getting a Pap smear.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Alcohol-related disorders in first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden: a national cohort study.

AIMS: The risk of alcohol-related disorders in first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden were investigated and compared with the Swedish majority population to assess how alcohol habits are modified over generations in a new society. DESIGN: Register study based on multivariate analyses of demographic data, including information on country of birth, from the Swedish Population and Housing Census of 1985 linked to data on hospital admissions for alcohol-related disorders during 1990-99 in the National Hospital Discharge Register. PARTICIPANTS: The study population consisted of a national cohort of 1.25 million youth born 1968-79 and 1.47 million adults born 1929-65. RESULTS: First- and second-generation immigrants from Finland had higher relative risks (RRs) for hospital admission because of an alcohol-related disorder compared to the Swedish majority population (socio-economic adjusted RRs 2.1 and 1.9, respectively), while first-generation immigrants born in southern Europe, the Middle East and other non-European countries had lower risks. Second-generation immigrants with heritage in southern Europe, the Middle East and other non-European countries had socio-economic adjusted RRs that were higher relative to the first generation immigrants but lower relative to the Swedish majority population. Intercountry adoptees had the highest adjusted RR (2.5). CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of alcohol abuse in the country of origin are strong determinants of alcohol-related disorders in first-generation immigrants. The patterns in second-generation immigrants are influenced by parental countries of origin as well as patterns in the majority population. The Finnish minority and intercountry adoptees are of particular concern in prevention.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Theories on immigrant women's health.

Our purpose in this article is to review theories critically that have been used to explain immigrant women's health based on 4 case studies of Korean immigrant women's experiences in the United States and suggest directions for future development of theories on immigrant women's health. First, 3 existing theories on immigration and health (selective migration, negative effect of immigration, and acculturation) are concisely described. Then, the daily experiences of 4 low-income Korean immigrant women are described in a narrative mode, and the 3 existing theories are critiqued in terms of how they can explain the women's narratives. Finally, implications for future theory development on immigrant women's health experience are proposed based on the discussion.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Incidence of mental disorders in second-generation immigrants in sweden: a four-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated mental health among second-generation immigrants who have reached adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine whether second-generation adult immigrants have a higher risk of being hospitalised for mental disorders than the Swedish majority population after adjustment for socio-economic status. METHODS: In total 1.9 million Swedish-born women and men aged 16-34 were followed from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1998 for first hospital admissions for mental disorders, categorised in four main diagnosis groups. Second-generation immigrants comprised four groups and the Swedish majority population was used as reference group. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Second-generation immigrants with one parent born in Sweden and second-generation Finns had higher risks of being hospitalised for psychotic disorders, affective disorders, neurotic disorders, and personality disorders than the Swedish majority population. For second-generation Finns the age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for psychotic disorders was 2.42 (CI = 2.09-2.80). No significant hazard ratios were found for second-generation labour immigrants. For second-generation refugees the risk of being hospitalised was higher than for the Swedish majority population but only for psychotic disorders. All results remained significant and decreased only slightly after adjustment for income and education. CONCLUSIONS: Many groups of second-generation immigrants have a higher risk of being hospitalised for mental disorder than the majority population. With increasing global migration it is crucial for all industrialised countries to take measures to improve mental health among second-generation immigrants.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Ethnocultural predictors of postpartum infant-care behaviours among immigrants in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To determine, among immigrants, what ethnocultural variables predict postpartum infant-care behaviours over and above other maternal and infant characteristics. METHODS: We recruited a cohort of immigrant women on hospital postpartum units. Data on predictor variables were collected during face-to-face interviews in the early postpartum period. Follow-up telephone interviews occurred at 3 months postpartum to assess infant-care behaviours. We identified 411 women meeting our eligibility criteria, of these 77.3% agreed to participate and 94% received follow-up interviews. RESULTS: In the first stage of a multiple linear regression analysis, maternal and infant predictors accounted for 24.2% of the variance in the 'Infant-Care Behaviours' score. In the second stage of model building, ethnocultural variables explained an additional 5.8% of the variance. Separate analyses for recent immigrants (resident in Canada less than 3 years) and less recent immigrants (3 or more years) yielded some differences in predictors. Among recent immigrants, worries about the infant's health, mother's education and an interaction term (current immigration status by parity) were significant predictors, explaining 23% of the variance. Among less recent immigrants, worries about the baby's health, prenatal class attendance, marital status and official language comprehension ability explained 37.7% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that assessing ethnocultural characteristics, in addition to maternal and infant characteristics, improves the prediction of 'Infant-Care Behaviours' scores.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Abortion rate and contraceptive practices in immigrant and native women in Sweden.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse whether immigrant women request induced abortion more frequently than Swedish-born women and, if so, to study possible explanations, including contraceptive practices and attitudes. METHODS: All women who requested induced abortion during a period of one year were included in the study. The 1289 women, of whom 36% were born outside Sweden, were interviewed by a nurse-midwife who, using a structured protocol, gathered information on socioeconomic factors, reasons for abortion, experience of contraceptive methods, and family planning counselling. The proportion of women with non-Swedish origin in the study population was compared with the official demographic statistics of the corresponding area. RESULTS: The number of women born outside Sweden who requested induced abortion was larger than expected from their proportion in the population. The immigrant women originated from 77 countries and four continents, the largest subgroup, 11%, coming from Iran. Immigrant women had less experience of contraceptive use, more previous pregnancies and more induced abortions than women born in Sweden. In a multivariate analysis, immigrant status and educational level were found to be independent risk factors for repeat abortion. CONCLUSION: Immigrant status seems to be an independent risk factor for induced abortion. The immigrant women originated from a wide range of cultures. There is no reason to believe that the women in this heterogeneous group should have any cultural factor in common that could explain their higher proneness to seek induced abortion. The most probable cause is that immigrant status is associated more often with low education, weak social network, poverty, unemployment, and being outside common pathways to healthcare.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1999

Immigration and the Maintenance of Local Species Diversity.

Explaining the maintenance of high local species diversity in communities governed by competition for space has been a long-standing problem in ecology. We present a simple theoretical model to explore the influence of immigration from an external source on local coexistence, species abundance patterns, and ecosystem processes in plant communities. The model is built after classical metapopulation models but is applied to competition for space between individuals and includes immigration by a propagule rain and an extinction threshold for rare species. Our model shows that immigration can have a huge effect on local species diversity in competitive communities where competition for space would lead to the exclusion of all but one species if the community were closed. Local species richness is expected to increase strongly when immigration intensity increases beyond the threshold required for the successful establishment of one or a few individuals. Community structure and species relative abundances are also expected to change markedly with immigration intensity. Increasing immigration causes total space occupation by the community to increase but primary productivity on average to either decrease or stay constant with increasing diversity, depending on the relation between immigration and local reproduction rates. These results stress the need for a regional perspective to understand the processes that determine species diversity, species abundance patterns, and ecosystem functioning in local communities.

competition for space↗

PubMed1999

The growth in noncitizen SSI caseloads 1979-1996: aging versus new immigrant effects.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this research is to assess the degree to which the recent growth in the rate of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) usage is concentrated among recently arrived elderly immigrants or among earlier arriving immigrants who have "aged in place" and thus become eligible for benefits. METHODS: We use 1980 and 1990 Census data and 1997 Current Population Survey (CPS) data to examine whether the growth in the elderly noncitizen caseload during the 1980s and 1990s may be attributed to increases in rates of receipt among newly arrived elderly immigrants, to increases in rates of receipt among "settled" immigrants who have aged into categories that allow them to obtain SSI benefits, or to increases in the number of persons in each of these groups. RESULTS: We find that the major contribution to the growth in the noncitizen elderly SSI caseload has been the significant increase in the rate of receipt among those who have lived in the United States for more than 10 years (a smaller increase occurred among recent arrivals). This factor accounts for about half of the total growth in the caseload and cannot be explained by increases in poverty among noncitizens. DISCUSSION: The idea that the availability of SSI for elderly immigrants has acted as a magnet for poor elderly immigrants, thereby accounting for the growth in the elderly immigrant SSI caseloads during the 1980s and 1990s, does not receive much support in the findings of this research.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Age at migration and family dependency among older Mexican immigrants: recent evidence from the Mexican American EPESE.

This study employs new data on Mexican-origin individuals aged 65 and older in the Southwestern United States to examine the impact of the age at which an individual immigrated to the United States on his or her sources of income and living arrangements. The data reveal that, in general, those who immigrated after the age of 50 are more dependent on their families than the native born or those who immigrated earlier in life. Although our findings must be interpreted cautiously because of small cell sizes, those who immigrated later in life are found to be less likely than the native born or those who immigrated earlier to have private pensions and Social Security income. They are also more likely to be living with their children and to be receiving money from them. We discuss the implications of recent restrictions on the eligibility of even legal immigrants for Supplemental Security Income on intergenerational relations and on the potential burden placed on the older immigrant's family, many of which may be seriously strained in hard economic times.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Living arrangements among older immigrants in the United States.

This analysis uses data from the 1990 5% Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) to identify the individual-level characteristics that influence residential dependence among immigrants age 60 and older in the United States. Particular attention is given to differences among 11 immigrant groups. Separate models are shown by gender and marital status. The results indicate that Hispanic and most Asian immigrants, particularly those from Mexico, Central or South America, India, and the Pacific Islands, are at a greater risk of living with family than non-Hispanic White immigrants. Although resource, need, and demographic characteristics influence the risk of living with Family, these individual-level characteristics do not explain the observed differences across the immigrant groups. These findings suggest that preferences that are shaped by the immigrant's experience as well as cultural background are an important determinant of immigrant living arrangements in later life.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Long-term risk of tuberculosis among immigrants in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Two-thirds of the tuberculosis (TB) cases in Norway were discovered among immigrants. Some cases were discovered at arrival, but many develop the disease several years post-migration. Knowledge about how long after migration to Norway TB were discovered will enable us to better target preventive measures including preventive therapy. This study examines the long-term risk of TB among immigrants in Norway. METHODS: All non-Nordic immigrants who arrived in Norway between 1986 and 2002, as registered by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, were followed-up. Their TB status was determined from the National Tuberculosis Registry. Observation period for TB cases was calculated from the date of arrival in Norway to TB registration. For persons without TB, it was calculated from the date of arrival in Norway to the date of emigration from Norway, date of death, or until end of follow-up (December 31, 2002). RESULTS: For immigrants from Africa and Asia, the TB rates were 190 and 80 per 100,000 person-years (PY), respectively, at 7 years post-migration. For immigrants from Somalia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and the former Yugoslavia, the rates were 520, 160, 210, and 40 per 100 000 PY respectively, at 7 years post-migration. These rates were 7 to 90 times higher than the crude TB incidence for Norway. This increased risk applies to both genders, pulmonary and extra-pulmonary sites. CONCLUSION: These results indicate the need for health personnel to be aware that immigrants remain at high risk of TB many years post-migration. Screening for TB on arrival should be strengthened, and preventive therapy for those with recent TB infection should be considered.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Differences in the prevalence of hypertension by ethnic origin and age at immigration in a cohort of 5,146 Israelis.

Marked ethnic differences in hypertension prevalence have been described in Jewish immigrants to Israel. The extent to which this phenomenon has persisted after a long period of living in the same country, and whether native-born descendants exhibit similar patterns, is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension in immigrants to Israel and native-born Israelis by region of origin and age at immigration. Complete data were available for 5,146 subjects (3,607 men and 1,539 women) aged 20-64 years who were employed in Israeli industries and were examined during 1985-1987. In both sexes, Jews originating in the West (Europe and the Americas) had higher blood pressures and a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension than those from northern Africa or Asia, particularly in the age group 20-44 years (17% vs. 9% and 8% in men, respectively, and 9% vs. 3% and 5% in women). There was a significant positive association between the prevalence of hypertension and age at immigration (p less than 0.001) in both sexes, and this finding was present in all ethnic groups. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the associations of hypertension with ethnic origin and age at immigration were only partly explained by variations in body mass index, after controlling for other potentially confounding variables. These findings suggest that despite these subjects' having shared a relatively similar physical environment for many years, ethnic differences in the prevalence of hypertension persist. Immigration at an older age was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension for both subjects originating in industrialized countries and those originating in nonindustrialized countries, suggesting that the process of immigration itself may adversely affect blood pressure.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Strongyloides stercoralis: risks posed to immigrant patients in an Australian tertiary referral centre.

BACKGROUND: Strongyloides stercoralis is a nematode human parasite with a global prevalence that is able to maintain a prolonged infestation by means of its autoinfective life cycle. Immunosuppression may result in a life-threatening hyperinfection syndrome. Recent changes in migration have resulted in the arrival of many immigrants from endemic areas. As to whether physicians are alert to the risks of strongyloidiasis in these patient groups is unclear. The aim of the study was to assess the risks posed by chronic strongyloidiasis in patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre and the need for screening of immigrant patients before immunosuppression. METHODS: The study comprised a retrospective review of cases of strongyloidiasis presenting to the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Thirty-three cases were diagnosed by either positive serology or faecal microscopy between January 1998 and January 2005. The medical records for 29 cases were examined with regard to demographics, clinical features and complications. RESULTS: Two major groups were identified: immigrants (17) and returned travellers (11). Six immigrants, but no returned traveller, developed a hyperinfective syndrome. Five immigrants received immunosuppressive therapies before developing symptoms of hyperinfection and this was complicated by life-threatening sepsis in two patients. Diagnosis was frequently delayed in the immigrant group who were significantly more likely to present with respiratory symptoms. Four immigrants and two returned travellers were treated with corticosteroids for symptoms that were probably related to larval migration. CONCLUSION: Before giving immunosuppressive therapies, patients with a history of potential exposure must be investigated for strongyloidiasis and consideration given to empirical treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Caribbean immigrants in Britain and Canada: socio-economic adjustment.

This paper compares the socioeconomic experiences of Caribbean immigration in Britain and Canada and shows how differing immigration trends together with changing economic circumstances influenced the process of integration. Caribbean immigrants in Canada are more recent arrivals than those in Britain and, in 1981, were still experiencing initial adjustment problems aggravated by an economy in which unemployment is still high. Unlike Britain, which has a large population born in that country of West Indian parentage, the "2nd generation" in Canada is small and mostly still in school. Despite higher levels of education and qualifications than their counterparts in Britain, Caribbean immigrants in Canada faced similar problems. Males were relatively more concentrated in manufacturing industries in Canada and in transportation in Britain, sectors which were undergoing significant structural change and experiencing high levels of unemployment. Earned income was below average in both countries but there were interesting gender differences. Caribbean women experienced the same "earnings gap", relative to men, that characterized most women in the labor force. However, Caribbean women were relatively more successful than men, as measured by unemployment rates and earned incomes. This appears to be due to their qualifications in nursing and other service occupations that continued to expand, and to be in demand in the 1970s and 1980s, when other occupations were declining in response to technological change and "post-industrial" developments. In both countries there were residual disadvantages, faced by Caribbean men and women, which cannot be statistically explained by factors such as age, education, period of immigration, or structural changes in the economy. These can be attributed, at least in part, to the institutionalized prejudice and discrimination against racial minorities which is prevalent in both societies. In absolute terms Caribbean immigrants in Canada are clearly better off than their counterparts in Britain. However, relative to other immigrants, and the native-born population with similar demographic characteristics and educational qualifications, those in Canada experience similar disadvantages.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1978

Prevalence of dental caries and quality of restorations among new immigrants to Israel.

The purpose of the present investigation was to gather information on the prevalence of dental caries and the quality of restorations of new immigrants to Israel, and to compare those two categories among immigrants from different regions of origin. New immigrants, residents of four absorption centers in Israel, were included in the study. Altogether, 1,031 immigrants (417 Eastern European, 338 Western European/North American and 276 South American) were examined. The results indicate that new immigrants to Israel from Eastern Europe are affected with more carious teeth (D), are missing more teeth (M), and have received quantitatively less treatment (F) than immigrants from Western Europe/North American and South America. The South America are an intermediate group. A similar distribution was found between the groups by their respective ages. The quality of dental restoration was found to be statistically higher among immigrants from Western European/North American and South American origins with the latter group exhibiting an intermediate level of quality of dental restorations.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Oral health status of Canadian-born and immigrant adolescents in North York, Ontario.

Studies from a number of countries, including Canada, have demonstrated that the oral health status of immigrants is worse than that of their native-born counterparts and that they make less use of dental services. To date, however, little information is available which documents changes in immigrant oral health following immigration. This paper reports the results of a study conducted in the City of North York, Ontario, that examined the oral health status of Canadian-born and immigrant adolescents aged 13 and 14 years. The former had better oral health than the latter on all parameters assessed and made more use of dental services. Within the immigrant population, there was a significant association between oral health and time since immigration. Those who had been in Canada 6 or more years were significantly healthier than those who had arrived within the preceding 2 years. While changing patterns of immigration may account for part of these differences, the data suggest that access to dental public health programs, delivered to students between the ages of 4 and 14 years, have been effective in improving the oral health of those born outside Canada. Since these programs cease at age 13 or 14 years, barriers to accessing the private dental care sector may mean that the residual inequities and inequalities evident in the data widen as these individuals age.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Homicide victims among Australian immigrants.

The homicide rates for various immigrant groups in Australia were calculated, and the influence of the rate in countries of origin on immigrant rates and the relationship between the birthplace of the accused and victim were examined. Age-sex standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for homicide were calculated for the immigrant groups, based on 1984-1988 mortality data and 1986 census data. The Australian-born homicide rates were used as the standard. Standardised mortality ratios for countries of origin were derived from WHO data. A cross-tabulation of the birthplaces of the accused and the victim was compiled from 1989-1992 police records. Male SMRs ranged from 0.13 (P < 0.01) for immigrants from Africa and the Americas to 5.83 (P < 0.05) for Koreans. Several female groups had lower SMRs than the Australian-born, although none of these differences were significant. Indonesian females had the highest SMR (5.32, P < 0.01). There was a positive Spearman correlation between the ranking of homicide rates for the origin populations and the immigrants (males 0.64, P < 0.05; females 0.62, P < 0.05). Overall, 51.3 per cent of immigrants were killed by their compatriots. This ranged from zero for New Zealanders to 100 per cent for immigrants from the Middle East. In order to further identify factors contributing to the large differences in rates it is imperative to have information on the victim, the perpetrator and the circumstances surrounding the murder.

Adolescent↗