Objective: To analyze health inequalities between native and immigrant populations in the Basque Country (Spain) and the role of several mediating determinants in explaining these differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the population aged 18 to 64 years in the BasqueCountry. We used data from the Basque Health Survey 2007 (n = 4,270) and the Basque Health Surveyfor Immigrants 2009 (n = 745). We calculated differences in health inequalities in poor perceived healthbetween the native population and immigrant populations from distinct regions (China, Latin America,the Maghreb and Senegal). To measure the association between poor perceived health and place of origin,and to adjust this association by several mediating variables, odds ratios (OR) were calculated throughlogistic regression models. Results: Immigrants had poorer perceived health than natives in the Basque Country, regardless of age. These differences could be explained by the lower educational level, worse employment status, lowersocial support, and perceived discrimination among immigrants, both in men and women. After adjust-ment was performed for all the variables, health status was better among men from China (OR: 0.18;95% confidence interval [CI95%]: 0.04-0.91) and Maghreb (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08-0.91) and among LatinAmerican women (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.92) than in the native population. Conclusions: These results show the need to continue to monitor social and health inequalities betweenthe native and immigrant populations, as well as to support the policies that improve the socioeconomicconditions of immigrants. © 2013 SESPAS.

discrimination Immigration social inequalities in health

China Communication Barriers educational status South and Central America Latin America poverty human communication disorder sex difference middle aged statistics and numerical data comparative study health status Health Surveys social support ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study Occupations migrant Senegal Adolescent Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants occupation female Socioeconomic Factors Spain Africa socioeconomics adult Africa, Northern Prejudice Sex Factors Healthcare Disparities health care disparity health survey