Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 4, 2015, Pages 1033-1040

A Comparison of Immigrant and Canadian-Born Patients Seeking Fertility Treatment (Article)

Zelkowitz P.* , King L. , Whitley R. , Tulandi T. , Ells C. , Feeley N. , Gold I. , Rosberger Z. , Chan P. , Bond S. , Mahutte N. , Ouhilal S. , Holzer H.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, 4333 Cote Ste. Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1E4, Canada
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, 4333 Cote Ste. Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1E4, Canada
  • c Douglas Mental Health Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • d Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • e Department of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics Unit, The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • f Centre for Nursing Research, Jewish General Hospital, The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • g Departments of Philosophy and Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • h Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • i Division of Urology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • j Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • k Montreal Fertility Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • l Montreal Fertility Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • m MUHC Reproductive Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Abstract

The present study examined whether public funding for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Quebec, Canada was associated with differential access among Canadian-born infertility patients and those born outside of Canada. Anonymous demographic questionnaires were completed at 3 time points: 2 weeks before the implementation of public funding, 2 weeks after, and 8 months later. Almost half the patients were not born in Canada and of these, 35 % were recent immigrants to Canada. While patients born outside Canada were generally better educated than Canadian-born patients, they were more likely to be unemployed and have lower incomes. Following public funding, there was an overall increase in patients with lower incomes and lower levels of education. Canadian-born patients were more likely than immigrant patients to consult for secondary infertility. Patients born outside Canada tended to be older and nulliparous, suggesting that they may have delayed treatment seeking due to financial and other barriers. The results indicate that public funding reduces health disparities in access to IVF. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

immigrants Infertility In-vitro fertilization Assisted reproductive technology Public funding Access to treatment

Index Keywords

infertility human epidemiology statistics and numerical data comparative study ethnology financial management Surveys and Questionnaires Humans migrant psychology male Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female questionnaire Financing, Government adult patient attitude in vitro fertilization Patient Acceptance of Health Care Fertilization in Vitro
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84937520491&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0037-4&partnerID=40&md5=28b8f960ef94a4e0200bfffb5d078c93
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0037-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English