Gaceta Sanitaria
Volume 23, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 91-98

Occupational health of immigrant workers in Spain [ITSAL Project]: key informants survey [Condiciones de trabajo y salud en inmigrantes (Proyecto ITSAL): entrevistas a informantes clave] (Article) (Open Access)

García A.M.* , López-Jacob M.J. , Agudelo-Suárez A.A. , Ruiz-Frutos C. , Ahonen E.Q. , Porthé V.
  • a Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud, Spain
  • b Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud, Spain
  • c Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia, Área de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
  • d Departamento de Biología Ambiental y Salud Pública, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
  • e Unidad de Investigación en Salud Laboral, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
  • f Unidad de Investigación en Salud Laboral, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics, working conditions, and occupational health situation of immigrant workers in Spain through key informants. Method: We performed a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study using indepth interviews carried out in 2006. Organizations and associations working with immigrant collectives in Alicante, Barcelona, Huelva, Madrid and Valencia were identified and the most representative and accessible entities in each location were selected. Fortythree interviews were performed with key informants from 34 different organisms. A narrative content analysis was performed. Results: Informants described difficulties in having health problems recognized as workrelated, due to irregular and precarious employment, employers' and insurance companies' reluctance, and immigrants' lack of knowledge. Informants coincided in reporting that the occupational risks for immigrant workers did not differ from those affecting Spanish workers in the same occupations and circumstances. However, exposure to occupational risks was exacerbated in immigrants because of their greater presence in unqualified jobs and their economic need to prolong working hours. Immigrants had little knowledge of their occupational health and safetyrelated rights, although some informants detected an increase in empowerment in this area, mostly through greater participation in trade unions. Conclusions: This first step allowed us to identify some of the general factors influencing the health and safety of immigrant workers in Spain. This information will be used in a longterm, ongoing research project [Project Immigration, Work and Health (Proyecto Inmigración, Trabajo y Salud [ITSAL]), which aims to evaluate occupational health problems in inmigrants working in Spain through both qualitative and quantitative methods. © 2007 SESPAS.

Author Keywords

Emigration and immigration Health education qualitative research occupational health

Index Keywords

Emigrants and Immigrants Spain Health Surveys occupational health Article human Humans migration health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-67349133116&doi=10.1016%2fj.gaceta.2008.02.001&partnerID=40&md5=a9fceb7f6b144fe2184163d9ea91c1b5
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2008.02.001
ISSN: 02139111
Cited by: 31
Original Language: Spanish