OBJECTIVE: To describe the social and demographic characteristics of the immigrant population residing in a health district and their use of health services. PARTICIPANTS: Immigrant population with papers or otherwise living in the area under study. SETTING: Health District 6 in the Community of Madrid. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Individual interviews with 300 immigrants chosen by two-stage conglomerate sampling. Average age was 32.6 (95% CI, 31.6-33.7) with 6.6 years living in Spain. 30.9% (CI, 24.3-35.9) lived in a situation of administrative and health-coverage irregularity. One of every five people had neither running water nor rubbish collection. The main health problems arising were muscular pains (69%; CI, 63.9-74.1), upper respiratory path ailments (40.3%; CI, 33.9-46.7) and accidents (27.3%; CI, 16.9-37.7). Health centres (64.5%; CI, 56.7-72.3) were used in preference to other services, with emergency being almost the only path into hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS: The immigrant population has lived in this area for a long time, despite living in adverse conditions in administrative and health terms. The public health service through INSALUD is the principal provider of health services to immigrants.

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male health service Spain Utilization Review health status Socioeconomic Factors female Emigration and Immigration comparative study hospitalization socioeconomics Humans health services Article human adult migration