[Sociodemographic variables and lifestyle as predictors of self-perceived health in immigrants in the Basque Country [Spain]]. / Variables sociodemográficas y estilos de vida como predictores de la autovaloración de la salud de los inmigrantes en el País Vasco.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the importance of socio-demographic factors as well as life-style and their influence in self-rated health of Maghribian, Sub-Saharian, Latin-American and non-Communitarian European immigrant groups living in the Basque Country (Spain). METHODS: Descriptive cross-study with a convenience sample of 689 persons, consisting of 219 Maghribians (31.8%), 152 Sub-Saharians (22.1%), 167 Latino(a)s (24.2%) and 151 non-Communitarian Europeans (21.9%). Data base have been completed with data collected using the 2002 Regional Basque Health Interview Survey (ESCAV 2002). The multivariate analysis was performed by using the dicotomic logistic regression (software SPSS 13). RESULTS: We found that 64.2% of Maghribian, 78.7% of Sub-Saharian, 66.1% of Latin-American and 67.1% of non-Communitarian European assessed their health as very good or good. The significantly associated variables (p<0.05 and p<0.01) with self-rated health were collective membership, sex and age. Persons belonging to the Sub-Saharian collective showed a stronger advantage of positively self-assessed health (OR=2.08; 95%CI: 1.29-3.36). This advantage was also found among men of all four collectives (OR=2.16, 95%CI: 1.54-3.02) and in persons in the age of 33-38 years (OR=3.13, 95%CI: 1.71-5.73). Those variables remained significant in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated the importance of considering differences in the health status and in self-rated health among immigrant groups, as well as the variables associated with those differences, when developing community-based health strategies.

[Impact in the utilisation of the health services of socio-demographic variables, life-style and self-rated health by immigrant groups living in the Basque Country, Spain]. / Impacto en la utilización de los servicios sanitarios de las variables sociodemográficas, estilos de vida y autovaloración de la salud por parte de los colectivos de inmigrantes del País Vasco, 2005.

BACKGROUND: The progressive incorporation of foreign population in our country requires the knowledge of the impact of these groups in our health system. The aim of this work is to identify the factors associated to the utilisation of the public health services of immigrant groups in the Basque Country. METHODS: Descriptive cross-study with a convenience sample of 689 persons, consisting of 219 Maghribians (31.8%), 152 Sub-Saharan (22.1%), 167 Latino(a)s (24.2%) and 151 non-Communitarian Europeans (21.9%). Data base have been completed with data collected using the 2002 Regional Basque Health Interview Survey (ESCAV2002). The multivariate analysis was performed by using the dicotomic logistic regression (software SPSS 13). RESULTS: The utilisation of the health services by the immigrants was associated to the fact of be a woman (OR=3.37, IC=1.77-6.43), Maghribian (OR=3.35, IC=1.51-7.45) and to have a bad self-rated health (OR=2.22, IC=1.00-4.90). A major utilisation of the hospital urgency during the first two years of stage was found in Sub-Saharan (OR=4.12, IC=1.23-13.81) and non-Communitarian European (OR=3.56, IC=1.08-11.80) immigrants. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study allows to identify differences in the utilisation of public health services by immigrants in the CAPV, taking into account the sex, self-rated health, immigrant group and time of residence in the host country.

[Immigration and health: Social inequalities between native and immigrant populations in the Basque Country (Spain)]. / Inmigración y salud: desigualdades entre la población autóctona e inmigrante en el País Vasco.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze health inequalities between native and immigrant populations in the Basque Country (Spain) and the role of several mediating determinants in explaining these differences. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in the population aged 18 to 64 years in the Basque Country. We used data from the Basque Health Survey 2007 (n=4,270) and the Basque Health Survey for Immigrants 2009 (n=745). We calculated differences in health inequalities in poor perceived health between the native population and immigrant populations from distinct regions (China, Latin America, the Maghreb and Senegal). To measure the association between poor perceived health and place of origin, and to adjust this association by several mediating variables, odds ratios (OR) were calculated through logistic regression models. RESULTS: Immigrants had poorer perceived health than natives in the Basque Country, regardless of age. These differences could be explained by the lower educational level, worse employment status, lower social support, and perceived discrimination among immigrants, both in men and women. After adjustment was performed for all the variables, health status was better among men from China (OR: 0.18; 95% confidence interval [CI95%]: 0.04-0.91) and Maghreb (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08-0.91) and among Latin American women (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.92) than in the native population. CONCLUSIONS: These results show the need to continue to monitor social and health inequalities between the native and immigrant populations, as well as to support the policies that improve the socioeconomic conditions of immigrants.

[Relationship between migrant status and social support and quality of life in Moroccans in the Basque Country (Spain)]. / Relación del estatus migratorio y del apoyo social con la calidad de vida de los marroquíes en el País Vasco.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of birth place, migrant status and the modulatory role of social support on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the presence of anxiety/depression symptoms. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of three samples composed of 2,776 persons: 1,239 Moroccans in Morocco, 149 Moroccans in the Basque Country (Spain) and 1,388 autochthonous individuals. HRQoL and the presence of anxiety/depression symptoms were evaluated using the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) and the Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). Social support was evaluated with the Duke scale. Multivariate analyses were performed with dichotomic logistic regression (SPSS 16). RESULTS: Immigrant status, compared with living in Morocco, was a protective factor in practically all SF-36 dimensions but was also a risk factor for the development of anxiety/depression symptoms. Differences in HRQoL between Moroccans and the autochthonous population in the Basque Country were attenuated when variables of social support were included in the multivariate models. Low social support and dissatisfaction with social life increased the risk of low HRQoL scores and the presence of anxiety/depression symptoms among Moroccans in the Basque Country. CONCLUSIONS: Some health indicators are more favorable in Moroccans in the Basque Country than in those living in Morocco, but the frequency of anxiety/depression is higher in Moroccan immigrants. The key factor to understanding social inequalities in health among Moroccan immigrants is social support. Strategies to maintain optimal health in these immigrant collectives should include public policies of social inclusion.