Health and Place
Volume 17, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 988-995

Migration does not enlarge inequalities in health between rich and poor neighbourhoods in The Netherlands (Article)

Jongeneel-Grimen B.* , Droomers M. , Stronks K. , Kunst A.E.
  • a Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands, Centre for Prevention and Health Services Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Postbus 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, Netherlands
  • c Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

We estimate to what extent migration contributes to inequalities in health between rich and poor neighbourhoods in The Netherlands. We used a sample from the survey WoonOnderzoek Nederland 2006. Using multilevel logistic regression analyses, we assessed the magnitude of health differences between poor vs. rich areas for the migrant and total population. Next, we compared the health of migrants to non-migrant populations and we assessed the role of sociodemographic characteristics. For most health indicators, area inequalities in health were much smaller in the migrant population than in the total population. The health of migrants was generally in-between the health of non-migrants who lived in areas of origin and destination. The differences in health with the population in the areas of origin were almost completely explained by sociodemographic characteristics. Health is related to risk of migration between poor and rich areas, mostly through sociodemographic selection instead of a direct effect of health. Despite the relationship with health, migration does not enlarge inequalities in health between poor and rich neighbourhoods but possibly attenuates the health differences. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

Small areas health inequalities Selective migration The Netherlands Socioeconomic factors morbidity

Index Keywords

urban population Netherlands household regression analysis lowest income group demography poverty health disparity human controlled study social aspect priority journal health status socioeconomic status morbidity social status male female logistics risk factor Article adult community living public health problem health hazard population migration health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79958076020&doi=10.1016%2fj.healthplace.2011.03.008&partnerID=40&md5=46f9a08adbd992f023aa589ca9d03159
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.03.008
ISSN: 13538292
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English