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 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

[Tuberculosis infection and disease in immigrant children].

From the second half of the eighties, the cases of tuberculosis (TBC) in Italy have been constantly increasing. The increase in TBC cases in developed countries is related to different factors, including HIV epidemic and increased number of immigrants from countries with high TBC incidence and important socio-economic problems. Compared with adults few children with TBC were homeless or coinfected with HIV, nonetheless the children lived frequently in low socioeconomic status and consequently high risk of being uninsured and with adults at risk for tuberculosis (immediate relative, household members, or recently immigrated). An epidemiologic study was carried out, in order to evaluate the impact of TBC infection in immigrant children. From January 2001 to December 2002, Mantoux test (5 IU) was performed in immigrant children hospitalized or followed in two children hospitals. They included 228 children: mean age 4 years (range 1 month to 15 years). The patients came from: South America (44%) (especially from Ecuador), from Africa (20%), from Eastern Europe (19%), (especially from Middle East and North Africa), from Far East (17%). In 30 cases (13,2%) Mantoux test was positive. Among these latter, 21 presented latent infection, whereas another 9 had tuberculous disease with pulmonary localization and one of them associated with cervical adenopathy. In the study period, among all children (4426) admitted the two Units, the prevalence of tuberculous disease was 2,5% in immigrant children compared 0.2% in native children. Accurate epidemiologic monitoring, further clinical studies aimed at highlighting TBC peculiar aspects in children, and adequate therapy can lead to TBC control in the immigrant children.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Setting the stage: reviewing current knowledge on the health of Canadian immigrants: what is the evidence and where are the gaps?

The paper reviews current knowledge on the health of Canadian immigrants, examines evidence, and identifies research gaps. The information presented is derived from two recent literature reviews. Most literature suggests that Canadian immigrants, particularly recent arrivals, enjoy health advantages over long-term immigrants and the Canadian-born population in terms of overall health status and the prevalence of certain chronic diseases. Immigrants with infectious diseases may experience improvements in health over time. Patterns of immigrant mental health are less clear. More research is needed on specific health problems, how to address determinants of health, and the types of programs and services necessary to maintain immigrants in good health over time. Steps must be taken to strengthen existing databases and develop new ones.

Canada↗

PubMedDate not supplied

National immigration health policy: existing policy, changing needs, and future directions.

Canada has a long history of welcoming immigrants and a longstanding immigration policy framework. The historic principles that govern immigration selection and processing also include regulatory policies in the area of health. Based on historical principles that pre-date Confederation, Canadian immigration health policy has remained relatively constant. Policies are based on the identification of specific individuals and the exclusion, if appropriate, of the affected individuals - an approach that continues today. During the past three decades, however, evolutionary changes in the patterns, volume and demography of immigration have created situations that may necessitate changes to existing policy frameworks. This paper reviews current immigration health policies and practices in Canada, describes the nature and impact of existing challenges, and proposes some alternatives for future consideration.

Canada↗

PubMed2004

Immigration and health.

The purpose of this integrated review was to examine research on the relationships between immigration and health. The review was limited to studies of immigration into North America published since 1994. The results suggested that, although recent research has furthered the understanding of immigration and health, the multiple health effects of the various social and cultural processes immigrants undergo are still not clearly understood. In addition, research on acculturation has not clarified the positive or negative effects of acculturation on health. The incorporation of transnational perspectives and contemporary concepts and frameworks such as biculturalism, undocumentedness, and transitions was noted as a significant contribution from recent research. The results of this integrative review indicate that interdisciplinary research on immigration and health is moving in new directions. The reviewers provide suggestions for future research on health disparities as well as on possible health protective factors among diverse immigrant populations.

Acculturation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In the "best interest" of immigrant and refugee children: deliberating on their unique circumstances.

Each year, state juvenile courts provide thousands of immigrant and refugee children with access to consistent and reliable caregiving and a stable environment. To examine how courts interpret "the best interests" of immigrant and refugee children, this article examines 24 cases in courts across the United States, which indicate they use a territorial approach when evaluating the best interests standard. Although legal status was not an issue, many related factors were. Consequently, the courts restricted immigrant parents' rights in caring, guiding, and visiting their children; increased the risk of wrongfully terminating parental rights; and intensified the unpredictability of immigrant and refugee children's welfare in the long run. This article suggests an approach that encourages communication between social workers and the courts to address the special needs and circumstances of immigrant and refugee children on three key topics: the material and moral welfare of the child, and social welfare for immigrant and refugee families.

Child↗

PubMed2006

Epidemiologic characteristics of pediatric active tuberculosis among immigrants from high to low tuberculosis-endemic countries: the Israeli experience.

BACKGROUND: During the last decade, Israel, a country with low tuberculosis rates, absorbed some 900,000 new immigrants from TB-endemic countries. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the specific impact of our screening procedures on active TB among children in Israel. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of epidemiologic and clinical data of all children (aged 0-17) with TB notified to the Ministry of Health between 1990 and 1999. RESULTS: There were 479 children with TB (male/female ratio 1.36). Most cases (81.8%) were foreign born, predominantly (88.2%) immigrants from Ethiopia and, therefore, huge differences existed in TB incidence rates according to countries of origin. Some 80% were diagnosed within 3 years of arrival, mainly due to active case-finding. Pulmonary TB, with infiltrates on chest X-ray, was found in 49.5%. Extra-pulmonary TB sites were: intra-thoracic lymphadenitis (31.1%), extra-thoracic lymphadenitis (12.5%), bones (3.6%), pleura (1.3%), meninges (1%), and others (1%). Seventy percent had a tuberculin skin test reaction > or =10 mm in size. Two (non-immigrant) children died of TB meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the pediatric TB cases occurred in recent immigrants and were diagnosed within 3 years of immigration. These data support our policy of active case-finding among new immigrants from Ethiopia and extensive contact evaluation for all TB cases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The medical examination in United States immigration applications: the potential use of genetic testing leads to heightened privacy concerns.

The medical examination has been an integral part of the immigration application process since the passing of the Immigration Act of 1891. Failing the medical examination can result in denial of the application. Over the years the medical examination has been expanded to include questioning about diseases that are scientifically shown to be rooted in an individual's genetic makeup. Recent advances in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics are making accurate and precise screening for these conditions a reality. Government policymakers will soon be faced with decisions regarding whether or not to sanction the use of these newly-developed genetic tests in the immigration application procedure. The terror threat currently facing the United States may ultimately bolster the argument in favor of genetic testing and/or DNA collection of applicants. However, the possibility of a government mandate requiring genetic testing raises a host of ethical issues; including the threat of eugenics and privacy concerns. Genetic testing has the ability to uncover a wealth of sensitive medical information about an individual and currently there are no medical information privacy protections afforded to immigration applicants. This article examines the potential for genetic testing in the immigration application process and the ethical issues surrounding this testing. In particular, this article explores the existing framework of privacy protections afforded to individuals living in the United States and how this and newly-erected standards like those released by the Health and Human Services (HHS) might apply to individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

PubMed2006

Xenophobia, ethnic community, and immigrant youths' friendship network formation.

Immigrant youth often rebuild their friendships and other social networks after arriving in a new country. The difficulties involved can threaten their psychosocial development. Formation of social networks needs to be understood within the macro sociocultural context that shapes the experience. Nonetheless, the current literature on social network formation rarely captures that context. Knowledge about immigrant youths' social network, for example, is often embedded in assimilation, ethnic identity, and adaptation literature. This paper examines how the sociocultural context enables immigrant youth to rebuild their friendship networks. A critical ethnography was conducted in the northwest region of the United States. Sixteen Taiwanese immigrant youth and their parents (N = 13) participated in the study. Data collection consisted of semi-structured in-depth interviews, a demographic questionnaire, and participant observations. The findings showed that because of limited English proficiency, the youth kept at a distance from American peers to avoid nervousness and embarassment. Further analysis, derived from xenophobia, found that limited English proficiency increases segregation between American peers ("we") and immigrant youth ("the other"). The English as a Second Language program inadvertently perpetuates the immigrants' sense of "otherness" and increases the odds of their becoming targets of discrimination. A protective factor for these youths is living near an ethnic community because the inclusion of coethnics increases new friendship networks. Knowledge about the teen culture in coethnics' countries of origin (China, Hong Kong, or the United States), also influences their selection of friends.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1991

[Prevalence of intestinal parasitoses in a sample of Italian and immigrant workers employed in the food sector of Turin].

We studied the prevalence of intestinal parasites in a random sample of immigrants and Italians employed in the food industry. Prevalence ranged from 20.8% among immigrants to 5.6% among Italians. Where helminths are widespread among Indochinese, protozoa are more common among africans. Three cases of Entamoeba histolytica in asymptomatic subjects were identified and successfully treated. We observed high levels of Giardia intestinalis both in Italians (2.2%) and immigrants (3.9%). Prevalence of intestinal protozoa was significantly associated with year of immigration, showing higher levels for new immigrants. The public health implications of parasite screening and treatment among recent immigrants were also discussed.

Africa↗

PubMed1991

[Disability pensions among immigrants in Oslo].

The prevalence of vocational disability pensions is now much higher among immigrants from Pakistan, Turkey and Morocco who settled in Norway in the late 1960' and early 1970' in order to find work than among the Norwegian population in general. The present study covers two cohorts of males and females aged 40-44 and 50-54 years of age in receipt of disability pensions. Musculoskeletal pain syndromes are far more prevalent among the immigrants as basis for a pension than among the Norwegian disabled population. In contrast, psychiatric diagnoses are less frequent among the immigrants. The above differences are discussed. The living conditions and particularly the working conditions of the immigrants, whose jobs are characterized by physical hardships and long working hours, may be an important reason for the high prevalence of vocational disability. Psychiatric diagnoses may be concealed because of their stigmatizing nature. Early retirement from work is more common in the countries from where the immigrants came and they thus tend to apply for a disability pension. This means that the Norwegian insurance system, with its rather liberal policy of consent, takes over many of the social and economic obligations which were traditionally part of family and kinship obligations in the former culture of the immigrants.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Levels and correlates of blood pressure in recent and earlier Ethiopian immigrants to Israel.

Blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric data were collected on 483 recent immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel, and on 171 adults and 100 adolescent boarding school students who had immigrated two to three years earlier. Comparison of samples within the Ethiopian groups, and between new and early Ethiopian immigrants with Israel and resident Israelis revealed the following: Systolic and diastolic BP were considerably lower in recent immigrants of both sexes than among counterparts residing in Israel for two to three years. The latter group significantly approached, but did not reach, the BP levels of veteran Israelis. A similar comparison of 100 immigrant Ethiopian boarding school children with an Israeli high school population revealed apparently larger differences among the boys than the girls, whose BP was 'adapted' to a greater degree. Differences in relative weight paralleled those identified for BP, with the Quetelet index (QI) progressively higher when comparing new immigrants with earlier ones, and with persons who have lived in Israel for a longer period. Whether the weight differences provide a complete explanation for BP changes cannot be definitely stated, pending prospective data on weight and BP changes. Correlations of BP with anthropometric parameters and pulse rate indicated that weight rather than QI was the stronger correlate of BP in adults, whereas weight and height, but not QI, correlated with BP in adolescent boys. QI correlated with BP in adolescent, apparently sexually mature girls, but not in boys.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[Immigrant children at the hospital].

The article presents a one year study of 227 immigrant children admitted to the Paediatric Department at Aker hospital, Oslo. Immigrant children comprised 16.5% of the admissions and, on average, had a longer stay in hospital than was the case for the department as a whole. Pakistani children were in the majority and accounted for 57.7% of the total number of admissions. Immigrant children show a higher incidence of imported diseases, due to visits to their native countries, mainly third world countries. Nutritional problems such as iron deficiency were particularly frequent in children between one and three years of age. An interpreter was used for 17.5% of the admitted children. The study showed, however, that interpreters should have been used even more. An increasing number of immigrant and refugee children impose new demands on today's health personnel: the need for further knowledge about the immigrants' cultural background and way of life. A larger proportion of immigrants among health personnel in our hospitals would prove beneficial.

Child↗

PubMed1977

Immigrants and natives as mental health care recipients.

Survey results indicate more mental health problems among immigrants than in the native population in Sweden and in one country of departure, Finland. This is reflected in the high proportion of immigrants in the mental hospital studied, but not among psychiatric out-patients. The immigrant patient rate is high even in socially advantageous groups, eg. among married and employed persons. The diagnoses and problems reported in the patient case records of immigrants and natives are compared, with controls for background variables. Some problems, e.g. paranoia, somatic symtoms, and diffuseness of difficulties are clearly related to immigration status but others, eg. alcohol, work, or human relations problems are connected only with social class or sex, irrespective of immigration status.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1983

Finnish immigrants and dental care in Stockholm county.

In recent decades Sweden has become an immigrant country. The proportion of persons of foreign origin in the population has risen from 0.5% in the 1940s to slightly more than 10% in the early 1980s. Migration to Sweden is a part of the extensive international migration of labour that has occurred in Europe since the Second World War. Almost half of the immigrants in Sweden come from Finland. The common Nordic Labour market since 1954 allows free migration of nordic citizens. No comprehensive dental health studies have been performed on immigrants in Sweden. The aim of this study was to assess and analyse the dental situation and utilization of dental services by Finnish immigrants to Stockholm county. Three different methods were used to gather dental epidemiological data. A clinical examination of an age-stratified random sample consisting of 170 adult Finnish citizens living at Huddinge, a suburb of Stockholm, provided data on the oral health during 1977. A questionnaire survey of a random sample of 1332, 20-59 yr old Finnish citizens in the same community in 1981 provided information on utilization of dental services, dental visiting behaviour and factors which determined this and also on perceived treatment needs in this population group. Finally, a comparison of use of dental services by and treatment provided to all Finnish citizens aged between 17-64 yr, born on the 20th of any month and living in the County of Stockholm, and to a matched comparison group of Swedes, was based on data from 1975. National health statistics, available since the introduction of the Dental Insurance scheme in Sweden, were used. A longitudinal follow-up survey of utilization of dental services and secular changes in dental attendance in 1976-1980 by 1152 settled Finnish immigrants, selected in the afore mentioned way, and a Swedish comparison group was also done using the same information source. The results of the investigations can be summarized as follows: The clinical and questionnaire studies revealed poorer oral health i.e., number of teeth and more untreated caries in the group studied than has been shown in epidemiological surveys on Swedish populations. The questionnaire study showed that about 23% of the respondents had not visited a dentist in Sweden. These were often recently immigrated and had poor knowledge of Swedish. About 23% of the respondents had sometimes used the Finnish dental services and 5.5% did so regularly while living in Sweden.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

[Outcome of pregnancy and prenatal care among immigrant women (author's transl)].

A retrospective survey on a representative sample of births in France in 1972 relating to more than 11000 women showed the amount of perinatal pathology among immigrants as compared with French women: a higher rate of foetal or neonatal distress, a three to four times higher stillbirth rate among Portuguese and North African women, a prematurity rate more than twice as higher among North African women. When differences in parity and socio-cultural level between immigrant and French women were allowed for, there remained a higher rate of perinatal pathology among immigrants. Prenatal care was also more often inadequate among immigrants, even when taking into account their low socio-cultural standard. Attitude towards prenatal care was highly influenced by the level of adaptation in France. But, even with equal prenatal care, perinatal pathology was higher among immigrant women: being an immigrant is a risk factor in itself.

Acculturation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ovarian cancer mortality among immigrants in Australia and Canada.

This study examined the impact of changing environments on ovarian cancer by comparing age-standardized mortality rates of numerous immigrants groups in Australia and Canada to those in the origin countries for the period 1984-1988. Mortality rates by length of residence in Australia (0-29 and 30+ years) were also calculated. In Australia, the mortality rates for all four immigrant groups from low-risk countries and 53.8% from high-risk countries (n = 13) shifted toward the rate of the native-born Australians. In Canada, rates for 88.9% of immigrant groups from low-risk countries (n = 9) and 30.0% from high-risk countries (n = 10) converged to the rate of native-born Canadians. Among individual immigrant groups there was not a consistent pattern of convergence with length of residence in Australia. There was evidence of convergence among the long-term residents of some of the groups and in the aggregate analysis. The increased mortality among the majority of immigrant groups is consistent with the reported inverse relationship between parity and ovarian cancer and the generally lower parity of immigrant women compared to those in their home country. The period of residence and analyses suggests that long-term environmental and lifestyle factors in the new place of residence may also influence ovarian cancer mortality.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Does fear of immigration authorities deter tuberculosis patients from seeking care?

Physician groups are concerned that legislation requiring physicians to report illegal immigrants to immigration authorities will delay curative care. In particular, patients with tuberculosis may delay seeking care for infectious symptoms and spread the disease. We surveyed 313 consecutive patients with active tuberculosis from 95 different facilities to examine the relationship of immigration-related variables, symptoms, and delay in seeking care. Most patients (71%) sought care for symptoms rather than as a result of the efforts of public health personnel to screen high-risk groups or to trace contacts of infectious persons. At least 20% of respondents lacked legal documents allowing them to reside in the United States. Few (6%) feared that going to a physician might lead to trouble with immigration authorities. Those who did were almost 4 times as likely to delay seeking care for more than 2 months, a period of time likely to result in disease transmission. Patients potentially exposed an average of 10 domestic and workplace contacts during the course of the delay. Any legislation that increases undocumented immigrants' fear that health care professionals will report them to immigration authorities may exacerbate the current tuberculosis epidemic.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preventive health care and screening of Latin American immigrants in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The Central and South American immigrant population in the United States is large and growing. A review of the preventive health care needs of this population has not previously been done but would be helpful to clinicians caring for immigrants in this country. METHODS: Using MEDLINE, the literature related to immigrants and their health status was searched, using the key words "immigrant," "refugee," "South/Central/Latin America," "health status," "screening," "nutrition," "parasites," "stomach/gastric cancer," "children," and "psychological." The American Statistics Index and Index to International Statistics were also resources. The available literature was reviewed and led to the recommendations in this article. RESULTS: Screening strategies for Latin American immigrants are discussed for intestinal parasites, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, schistosomiasis, leprosy, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, cervical and gastric cancer, sickle cell trait, malnutrition, iron-deficiency anemia, incomplete immunizations, dental problems, psychological problems, impairment in the elderly, alcohol use, smoking, physical inactivity, and hypertension. There are not enough data to evaluate fully the screening strategies for most of these conditions, but recommendations are offered based on current knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Screening is recommended for intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis, tuberculosis, hepatitis B in prenatal patients, leprosy in immigrants from high-risk areas, yearly Papanicolaou smears, malnutrition, iron-deficiency anemia, incomplete immunizations, dental problems, history of violence, and depression. Screening for sickle cell trait in prenatal patients from South America and universal hepatitis B screening are less clearly indicated but could be appropriate. Screening for American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), malaria, and gastric cancer is not recommended. Screening for HIV infection, functional impairment in the elderly, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and hypertension should be the same as for the general population.

Central America↗