The "healthy immigrant effect" observed in other countries also prevails in Canada. Immigrants, especially recent immigrants, are less likely than the Canadian-born population to have chronic conditions or disabilities. The effect is most evident among those from non-European countries, who constitute the majority of recent immigrants to Canada. This article compares the health status, health care utilization, and health-related behaviour of immigrants with the Canadian-born population, and is based on self-reported data from the 1994-95 National Population Health Survey. Health status is examined in terms of chronic conditions, disability and health-related dependency. The indicators of health care utilization are hospitalization, contact with physicians and dentists, and unmet needs for health services. The health-related behaviours analysed are smoking and leisure time physical activity.

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South and Central America Latin America Europe Disabled Persons human Health Behavior middle aged Asia disabled person statistics health service comparative study health status Health Surveys chronic disease ethnology Humans Adolescent male Canada female health services prevalence Article adult migration Utilization Review Emigration and Immigration health survey