Ethnicity, social class and health. A population-based study on the influence of social factors on self-reported illness in 223 Latin American refugees, 333 Finnish and 126 South European labour migrants and 841 Swedish controls

Abstract

This article shows the influence of ethnicity and social class on self-rated illness compared with social factors and lifestyle. We were particularly interested in health differences between refugees and labour migrants. The study population consisted of 223 Latin American refugees domiciled in Lund, 333 Finnish and 126 South European labour migrants and 841 Swedish controls. The data were analysed unmatched with logistic regression (multivariate analyses) in main effect models. The strongest independent risk indicator for long-term illness was being a Latin American refugee, with an estimated odds ratio of 2.78 (1.95–3.81), or a South European 1.80 (1.17–2.71). Low social class, low material standard, age 45–64 years and overweight were significantly associated with long-term illness. There was a strong association between being a Latin American refugee and ill-health, followed by a weaker association for South European labour migrants and no association for Finlanders and Swedes when controlled for other social factors in logistic regression. Low social class, age 45–64 years, poor social network, not feeling secure in daily life and not taking regular exercise were associated with ill-health. South Europeans were the only ethnic group who showed an association to working impairment and disability. Latin Americans were significantly associated with acute illness with an estimated odds ratio of 2.00 (1.32–2.94). In conclusion, ethnicity was shown to be an independent powerful social dimension compared with social class in relation to self-rated illness.