European Journal of General Practice
Volume 18, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 100-106

Primary health care utilization by immigrants as compared to the native population: A multilevel analysis of a large clinical database in Catalonia (Article)

Muñoz M.-A.* , Pastor E. , Pujol J. , Del Val J.L. , Cordomí S. , Hermosilla E.
  • a Catalan Inst. of Health and Primary Health Care University Research Institute (IDIAP- Jordi Gol), Sant Elies 42, 08006, Barcelona, Spain, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • b Primary Health Care Service Granollers-Mollet, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
  • c Primary Health Care Service Granollers-Mollet, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
  • d Catalan Inst. of Health and Primary Health Care University Research Institute (IDIAP- Jordi Gol), Sant Elies 42, 08006, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, University of Vic, Vic, Spain
  • f Catalan Inst. of Health and Primary Health Care University Research Institute (IDIAP- Jordi Gol), Sant Elies 42, 08006, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Background: Immigration is a relevant public health issue and there is a great deal of controversy surrounding its impact on health services utilization. Objective: To determine differences between immigrants and non-immigrants in the utilization of primary health care services in Catalonia, Spain. Methods: Population based, cross-sectional, multicentre study. We used the information from 16 primary health care centres in an area near Barcelona, Spain. We conducted a multilevel analysis for the year 2008 to compare primary health care services utilization between all immigrants aged 15 or more and a sample of non-immigrants, paired by age and sex. Results: Overall, immigrants living in Spain used health services more than non-immigrants (Incidence Risk Ratio (IRR) 1.16 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.15-1.16) and (IRR 1, 26, 95% CI: 1.25-1.28) for consultations with GPs and referrals to specialized care, respectively. People coming from the Maghreb and the rest of Africa requested the most consultations involving a GP and nurses (IRR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.33-1.36 and IRR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.44, respectively). They were more frequently referred to specialized care (IRR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.41-1.46) when compared to Spaniards. Immigrants from Asia had the lowest numbers of consultations with a GP and referrals (IRR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66-0.88 and IRR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.95, respectively. Conclusion: On average, immigrants living in Catalonia used the health services more than non-immigrants. Immigrants from the Maghreb and other African countries showed the highest and those from Asia the lowest, number of consultations and referrals to specialized care. © 2012 Informa Healthcare.

Author Keywords

Primary care Health services utilization immigrants

Index Keywords

immigrant multicenter study nurse risk human middle aged Asia health service data base controlled study General Practitioners Databases, Factual Cross-Sectional Studies Confidence interval Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans consultation male Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female specialization Referral and Consultation Africa Article health care utilization major clinical study adult multilevel analysis primary health care
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84862070014&doi=10.3109%2f13814788.2012.656085&partnerID=40&md5=ba7b7c6c39fba810366db0eb235a7614
DOI: 10.3109/13814788.2012.656085
ISSN: 13814788
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English