BMC Public Health
Volume 12, Issue 1, 2012

Migrant health in French Guiana: Are undocumented immigrants more vulnerable? (Review) (Open Access)

Jolivet A.* , Cadot E. , Florence S. , Lesieur S. , Lebas J. , Chauvin P.
  • a INSERM U707, Research Team on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Care, Site St-Antoine, 27 Rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 06, UMR-S 707, Paris, France
  • b INSERM U707, Research Team on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Care, Site St-Antoine, 27 Rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 06, UMR-S 707, Paris, France
  • c INSERM U707, Research Team on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Care, Site St-Antoine, 27 Rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 06, UMR-S 707, Paris, France
  • d INSERM U707, Research Team on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Care, Site St-Antoine, 27 Rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 06, UMR-S 707, Paris, France
  • e INSERM U707, Research Team on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Care, Site St-Antoine, 27 Rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 06, UMR-S 707, Paris, France, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
  • f INSERM U707, Research Team on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Care, Site St-Antoine, 27 Rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 06, UMR-S 707, Paris, France

Abstract

Background: Few data exist on the health status of the immigrant population in French Guiana. The main objective of this article was to identify differences in its health status in relation to that of the native-born population. Methods. A representative, population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2009 among 1027 adults living in Cayenne and St-Laurent du Maroni. Health status was assessed in terms of self-perceived health, chronic diseases and functional limitations. The migration variables were immigration status, the duration of residence in French Guiana and the country of birth. Logistic regression models were conducted. Results: Immigrants account for 40.5% and 57.8% of the adult population of Cayenne and St-Laurent du Maroni, respectively. Most of them (60.7% and 77.5%, respectively) had been living in French Guiana for more than 10 years. A large proportion were still undocumented or had a precarious legal status. The undocumented immigrants reported the worst health status (OR = 3.18 [1.21-7.84] for self-perceived health, OR = 2.79 [1.22-6.34] for a chronic disease, and OR = 2.17 [1.00-4.70] for a functional limitation). These differences are partially explained by socioeconomic status and psychosocial factors. The country of birth and the duration of residence also had an impact on health indicators. Conclusion: Data on immigrant health are scarce in France, and more generally, immigrant health problems have been largely ignored in public health policies. Immigrant health status is of crucial interest to health policy planners, and it is especially relevant in French Guiana, considering the size of the foreign-born population in that region. © 2012 Jolivet et al; BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

Health status French Guiana Immigrant Undocumented migrant Cross-sectional survey

Index Keywords

Vulnerable Populations vulnerable population psychological aspect health care policy human statistics Logistic Models chronic disease Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female self concept Health Status Indicators Article Retrospective Studies French Guiana adult migration legal aspect Health Policy statistical model Transients and Migrants social class retrospective study health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84855865136&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2458-12-53&partnerID=40&md5=9a3941bd51f0fbff4c850069127b5431
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-53
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English