Canadian Immigrants: Health Week 9, Lecture 1

The Game Plan Announcements? Name that Tune! Immigrant health Mid-term Health assignment Take home messages

Immigration and Canada 2006 census estimated 6,186,950 foreign -born people in Canada (Stats. Can., 2007). 1,110,000 between January 2001 and May 2006. Immigrants make up one fifth of the total population. Account for half of population growth (Lindsay & Almey, 2005).

Immigration and Canada Cont. Categories: independent class (skilled worker or business immigrant), family class, and refugees and others (caregivers, retirees, etc.) (Hyman, 2007). From Asia(1), Europe (2), Central/South America/Caribbean (3), and Africa (4) (Stats. Can.). Majority of immigrant population in 2006 reported a mother tongue other than English or French (Stats. Can.).

Canadian Immigrants Most immigrants from countries with different cultures, languages, and health practices (Pottie, Ng, Spitzer, Mohammed, & Glazier, 2008). Culturally specific beliefs influence approaches to health and illness (Newbold, 2009). Face language barriers, cultural alienation, disparate gender ideologies, and institutional barriers to health care and healthy living (Pottie et al., 2008).

The Most Vulnerable Canadians? Immigrants have differential health care utilization rates and tend to receive poorer quality health services (Newbold). Lower income immigrants two times likely to report unmet health care needs (Newbold & Danforth, 2003). Women and refugees especially vulnerable (Pottie et al.). One in five women born outside the country (Lindsay & Almey).

Healthy Immigrant Effect Healthy Immigrant Effect (H.I.E.): Health status tends to be higher than most Canadians, yet over time declines and converges toward status of citizens born in Canadian. The result of health care needs that differ and therefore go unmet (Newbold & Danforth). And/Or the result of adopting host country norms (Newbold & Danforth). “Access is more than just health care that is free at the point of delivery, but instead represents a complex interaction between culture and access” (Newbold, 2009, p. 548).

Healthy Immigrant Effect (Hyman). HIE not equivalent for all immigrant sub-groups. Our understanding of HIE between genders, ethnicities and length of stay is limited.

Health Disparities Cont. (Pottie et al.) Poorer health found in: older immigrants. Those with less than secondary education. Those of family class or refugees status. Those with no job satisfaction. Poor language proficiency.

Health Disparities Cont. (Newbold, 2009). GP use more frequent among foreign-born Canadians. Especially older immigrants, women of child bearing age and inactive individuals. Single less likely to see GP than married. Male immigrants less likely to see GP than Canadian born men.

Risks for Injury (Smith & Mustard, 2007). Immigrants at higher risk for work related injury. Less training. Greater need to gain and keep employment. Number of injuries needing medical attention far greater for new immigrant employees than Canadian born workers. Twice the risk for men.

Solutions to Health Disparities More research needed on social determinants of immigrant health (Hyman). Health literacy measures needed in health surveys (Pottie et al.) Analyze genders separately (Pottie et al). Your suggestions?

Take Home Messages Book critique due next class!