Background: Morbidity, use of healthcare and medication use have been reported to vary across groups of migrants and according to the different phases of migration, but little is known about children with immigrant background. In this study, we investigate whether the immigrant childrenfs age of arrival predicts differences in usage of primary healthcare (PHC) and in use of prescribed medication. Methods: This nationwide, population-based study used information for children under 18 years of age in 2008 from three linked registers in Norway. Use of medication was assessed with logistic regression analyses presented with ORs with 95% CIs. Results: Of 1 168 365 children, 119 251 had immigrant background. The mean number of PHC visits among children aged 10.18 years, was 1.19 for non-immigrants, 1.17 among second generation immigrants, 1.12, 1.05 and 0.83 among first immigrant children who were >5, 5.9 and .10 years at arrival in Norway, respectively. Patterns were similar for younger immigrants, and were confirmed with regression models adjusting for age and sex. First generation immigrant children used less of nearly all groups of prescribed medication compared to nonimmigrants when adjusting for age and sex (overall OR 0.48 (0.47 to 0.49)), and medication was also generally less used among second generation immigrant children (overall OR 0.92 (0.91 to 0.94)). Conclusions: Age of arrival predicted PHC usage among children among first-generation children. Firstgeneration immigrant children, particularly those arriving later in adolescence, used PHC less than age corresponding non-immigrant children. Immigrant children used less prescribed medication compared to non-immigrants after adjustment for age and sex.

[No Keywords available]

immigrant Drug Prescriptions Registries Norway logistic regression analysis clinical trial register human statistics and numerical data controlled study family size Family Characteristics prescription Young Adult school child migrant Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool newborn adolescence blood examination Hematologic Tests major clinical study translating (language) adult Translating age Age Factors utilization ambulatory care Office Visits statistical model primary health care Child