Socioeconomic Status, Workforce and Determinants of Health Among Mexican Immigrant Women in the U.S.

Abstract

P-391 Introduction: Migration is a complex process that is associated with major changes in the individuals as well as in their communities of origin. Behavioural changes among immigrants are largely influenced by the process of acculturation and their socioeconomic status, which in turn have an impact on their health. This pilot study was aimed to characterize changes in risk factors and some associated diseases among Mexicans who migrate to California, and to understand the role of acculturation, as well as the underlying causes for these changes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among a group of 195 women. One-hundred two of the participants were selected randomly from a census of women 18–49 years of age who were permanent residents of Chavinda, Michoacán, México. Ninety three migrant women (18–45 years) were selected based on a geographic recruitment procedure conducted in Madera, California, US among Mexican women born in Mexico and having lived in Madera for at least 6 months. Information regarding demographic variables, household composition, immigrant relatives, life style and cultural assimilation was collected. Poverty and acculturation indexes were built. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative procedures. Results: In Chavinda, 11.8% of the women were classified as living below the poverty line. Domestic work was reported in 79% of the women. Thirty-one percent of the participants reported having migrant relatives (90.6% to California). Particularly husbands (34.4%). In Madera, 56% of the women had worked in agriculture, and 37.4% of them reported exposure to pesticides. Eighty-four percent of the women were considered “low” acculturated. Medium/high acculturated women were more likely to use tobacco (7%) and alcohol (57.1%). The odds of smoking among Mexican women was not significantly lower (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.36, 6.63) than was found among US women, but it is important to note that the prevalence of smoking was very low in all of the groups. However, Mexican women did have a significantly lower risk of ever having consumed alcohol (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.88). Conclusions: Non-migrant Chavinda women had lower disease risk factors than migrant women and were economically dependent on their migrant spouses. Migrant women from Mexico may have greater exposure to agricultural health hazards. Acculturation seems associated with a less healthy life-style.