PLoS ONE
Volume 7, Issue 6, 2012

Self-reported health status in primary health care: The influence of immigration and other associated factors (Article) (Open Access)

Salinero-Fort M.Á. , Jiménez-García R. , del Otero-Sanz L. , de Burgos-Lunar C. , Chico-Moraleja R.M. , Martín-Madrazo C. , Gómez-Campelo P.
  • a Fundación de Investigación Biomédica, Hospital Carlos III, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain
  • b Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
  • c Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
  • d Unidad de Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital Carlos III, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain
  • e Unidad de Medicina Interna, Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain
  • f Centro de Salud Monóvar, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain
  • g Fundación de Investigación Biomédica, Hospital Carlos III, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain

Abstract

Objective: The aims of this study are to compare self-reported health status between Spanish-born and Latin American-born Spanish residents, adjusted by length of residence in the host country; and additionally, to analyse sociodemographic and psychosocial variables associated with a better health status. Design: This is a cross-sectional population based study of Latin American-born (n = 691) and Spanish-born (n = 903) in 15 urban primary health care centres in Madrid (Spain), carried out between 2007 and 2009. The participants provided information, through an interview, about self-reported health status, socioeconomic characteristics, psychosocial factors and migration conditions. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: The Spanish-born participants reported a better health status than the Latin America-born participants (79.8% versus 69.3%, p<0.001). Different patterns of self-reported health status were observed depending on the length of residence in the host country. The proportion of immigrants with a better health status is greater in those who have been in Spain for less than five years compared to those who have stayed longer. Better health status is significantly associated with being men, under 34 years old, being Spanish-born, having a monthly incomes of over 1000 euros, and having considerable social support and low stress. Conclusions: Better self-reported health status is associated with being Spanish-born, men, under 34 years old, having an uppermiddle-socioeconomic status, adequate social support, and low stress. Additionally, length of residence in the host country is seen as a related factor in the self-reported health status of immigrants. © 2012 Salinero-Fort et al.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

urban population South and Central America social psychology Latin America demography human Latin American Self Report immigration statistics ethnic group social aspect controlled study health status social support interview income cross-sectional study Humans ethnic difference male Spain female Socioeconomic Factors stress Multivariate Analysis socioeconomics population research Spanish Article adult gender migration age Emigration and Immigration primary health care
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861873833&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0038462&partnerID=40&md5=c76b08060806b9267955f45cffaa7306
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038462
ISSN: 19326203
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English