BMC Public Health
Volume 10, 2010

Prevention among immigrants: The example of Germany (Article) (Open Access)

Spallek J.* , Zeeb H. , Razum O.
  • a University of Bielefeld, Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, PO Box 10 01 31, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany, Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 69, D-55131 Mainz, Germany, University of Bremen, Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine (BIPS), Linzer Strae 10, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 69, D-55131 Mainz, Germany, University of Bremen, Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine (BIPS), Linzer Strae 10, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
  • c University of Bielefeld, Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, PO Box 10 01 31, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany

Abstract

Background. A large and increasing part of the European population has a history of migration. Germany, for example, is home to about 15 million people with migrant background, which amounts to 19% of its population. Migrants may have differences in their lifestyle, health beliefs and risk factors compared to the autochthonous populations. Discussion. As for example studies on children's participation in routine prevention activities have shown, these differences can have a relevant impact on the access of migrants to the health care system and are likely to lower their participation in prevention programs compared to the autochthonous population. To increase the uptake of prevention programs, barriers to access must be identified and approaches to reduce them must be developed. Summary. Taking the example of Germany, a need exists for prevention programs that include (migrant sensitive) and specifically address (migrant specific) migrants. These should be of sufficient scale, evidence-based, sustainable and evaluated at regular intervals. © 2010 Spallek et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Germany standard preventive health service risk factor Risk Factors Health Services Accessibility Transients and Migrants Cultural Competency cultural competence Article health disparity Health Status Disparities Preventive Health Services attitude to health human Humans migration health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77949534724&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2458-10-92&partnerID=40&md5=abf6d40aaa825bea03f4a0fab38677a6
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-92
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 43
Original Language: English