Health and literacy in first- and second-generation Moroccan Berber women in the Netherlands: Ill literacy?

Marrie Hj Bekker,Mina Lhajoui

doi:10.1186/1475-9276-3-8

Marrie Hj Bekker, Mina Lhajoui

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-3-8

Copy DOI

Abstract

AimThe present study was aimed at investigating the role of literacy and generation in the self-reported general health status of Moroccan Berber speaking women in the Netherlands.MethodFifty women in our sample (N = 75) were first generation women, from which group 25 were literates and 25 illiterates. Another group of 25 literate women belonged to the second generation. The three groups were matched for demographic characteristics. Questionnaires were administered reflecting all concepts under study. We hypothesized that, within the first generation, illiterates compared with literates would report worse health. Our second hypothesis was that literates of the first generation compared with those of the second generation would have a similar health condition.ResultsAfter controlling for age, having a job, and having an employed partner, the first generation literates compared with the illiterates of the first generation indeed reported significantly better health. Additionally, we did not find any differences in health condition between both literate groups, even after controlling for age, number of children, and marital status. Health complaints that were most frequently reported by both groups, concerned pain in shoulders, back and head.ConclusionsOur results underline the importance of offering immigrants optimal access to opportunities and facilities that can improve their literacy and reading ability.

Highlights

One of the most substantial sources as well as expressions of inequity among various groups participating in the same society is their differential access to written language, in other words, their degree of literacy
Our results underline the importance of offering immigrants optimal access to opportunities and facilities that can improve their literacy and reading ability
The results will be presented in the following sequence: reliability of the MOS social functioning (SF)-36 subscale scores for all groups of Berber women who participated in the present study; comparison of health conditions and – perceptions between the illiterate and the literate group of first-generation Berber women; comparison of health conditions and – perceptions between the literate group of the first- and that of the second generation; health comparisons between all three groups together

Summary

Introduction

One of the most substantial sources as well as expressions of inequity among various groups participating in the same society is their differential access to written language, in other words, their degree of literacy. In Western countries, more frequently among migrants than among native inhabitants, it strikes a considerable proportion of the latter group [1]. Literacy affects all domains of life including one's health. In the United States, several studies have been done on the relationship between health and literacy indicating an association between bad health and illiteracy (for an (page number not for citation purposes). Other results [2] confirmed the association of illiteracy with relatively bad health, and with a relatively bad psychosocial situation as expressed in quality of relationships with other people

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion