Immigrant Population In Spain Research Articles

Association of immigrant status with self-rated health in Spain: 2014–2020

ObjectiveTo examine inequalities in self-rated health between immigrant and native populations in 2014 and 2020, and whether these inequities vary by sex/gender and social support. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used information from adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the European Health Interview Survey in Spain in 2014 and 2020. Self-rated health was specified as good or bad/poor. Immigration status and length of stay were considered to specify the exposure. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in each survey. Interaction terms between immigration status and survey; and immigration status, survey, and sex/gender or social support were tested. ResultsThe adjusted analyses showed that when compared with Spanish native adults, immigrants with 6–15 years residing in Spain had a 1.34 (95%CI:1.18, 1.53) greater probability of rating their health as bad/poor in 2014. Similarly, these probabilities were 1.48 (95%CI:1.28, 1.75) for immigrants with 6–15 years residing in Spain in 2020. No heterogeneity was observed for the associations of immigrant status/length of stay with self-rated health for sex/gender or social support in either survey (p-interactions for sex/gender: 0.41 and social support: 0.71). ConclusionGiven the growth of the immigrant population in Spain and the importance of immigration as a social determinant of health, these findings call attention to a deeper examination of inequalities, with the aim of identifying potential factors leading to bad/poor rating of health over time.

Differences in the risk of premature cancer mortality between natives and immigrants in Spain.

The healthy immigrant paradox has found wide support in the literature. To evaluate this hypothesis that immigrants have better health outcomes than the native population, this study aimed to compare the premature cancer mortality between the native and immigrant populations in Spain. We obtained the 2012-15 cause-specific mortality estimates from administrative records and participant characteristics data from the 2011 Spanish census. Using Cox proportional hazards regression models, we calculated the risks of mortality of the native and immigrant populations, and the latter populations' risk based on their regions of origin, and determined the effects of covariates of interest on the calculated risk. Our results show that the risk of premature cancer mortality is lower among immigrants than among natives, and this gap is higher among men than among women. There is a lower mortality rate among Latin American immigrants (Latino men are 81% less likely to die prematurely from cancer than native-born men, and Latino women are 54% less). Moreover, despite social class disparities, immigrants' advantage in cancer mortality remained constant and decreased with increasing length of residence in the host country. This study provided novel evidence on the 'healthy immigrant paradox', associated with the fact that migrants are favorably selected at origin, cultural patterns of the societies of origin and, in the case of men, there is some convergence or an 'unhealthy' integration that explains the fact that this advantage over natives is lost with more years of residence in Spain.

Mortality impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on immigrant populations in Spain

Immigrant populations have been shown to display a disproportionately high mortality burden during the Covid-19 epidemic in some high-income countries. Individual civil registration data from Spain, one of the countries with the highest Covid-19 mortality in Europe, was used in order to characterize mortality during the Covid-19 epidemic for different immigrant groups. Individuals born in South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are shown to have suffered higher mortality impact than the native-born, particularly at working ages (40–59 years old), which could be due to higher proportions of immigrants from these regions among key workers. However, this disproportionate impact is not as high as found in other European countries, like France or Sweden. On the other hand, immigrants born in Europe show a relatively low mortality increment during the epidemic compared to the native-born. In addition, evidence is shown of a generalized and strong migrant mortality advantage for all non-European immigrant groups in Spain, that reduces or even reverses for some groups of countries of birth in 2020.

The Impact of Religion and Social Support on Self-Reported Happiness in Latin American Immigrants in Spain

The Latin American immigrant population in Spain is growing year after year. The aim of this study is to describe how religious coping mechanisms, religiosity, acculturation and social support act in the prediction of happiness within the group of Latin American immigrants with Christian beliefs in Spain. Previous studies indicate that religious practice can be a factor that favors the perception of well-being and happiness in people. It is considered that the existence of close sources of support act as a key resource in facing stressful situations. A questionnaire consisting of 36 items was administered to a sample made up of 206 subjects of different Latin American nationalities who were going through a migration process. It was observed that religiosity, social support, religious coping mechanisms and gender were related to the perception of happiness. The results underline the importance of considering religiosity and social support together while intervening to improve the perception of happiness of Latin American immigrants in Spain.

Stuck in a Time Warp? The Great Recession and the Socio-occupational Integration of Migrants in Spain

This article examines the socio-occupational integration of the immigrant population in Spain for a time span that, for the first time, includes the post-crisis period. Using the Spanish Labour Force Survey and conducting a socio-occupational analysis, we predict the probability that a migrant would be employed in one socio-occupational class over another in three periods: before, during and after the crisis. Our main research questions are as follows: (1) To what extent do migrants tend to be located in certain socio-occupational classes? (2) To what extent does the likelihood of belonging to a certain socio-occupational class differ according to immigrants’ places of origin? (3) Can differences be found in the likelihood of belonging to a certain socio-occupational class according to the places of origin before, during and after the Great Recession? The results show a very unequal distribution of immigrants in the socio-occupational structure according to their origin. While immigrants from Schengen Europe and North America are better located in the occupational structure, those from Eastern Europe and Africa are over-represented in the lower socio-occupational classes.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors in Spain: A comparison of native and immigrant populations.

Cardiovascular disease (CDV) risk factors are highly prevalent among adults with low social class in Spain. However, little is known on how these factors are distributed in the immigrant population, a socio-economic disadvantaged population. Thus, this study aims to examine inequalities in CVD risk factors among immigrant and native populations. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 and used log-binomial regression to quantify the association of immigrant status on CVD risk factors among adults aged 25–64 years. The probabilities of having at least three CVD risk factors were higher for immigrants from Eastern Europe (PR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.15–1.35) and lower for immigrants from Africa (PR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69–0.89) when compared with natives. The association of immigrant status and CVD risk factors varies with educational attainment (p-interaction = 0.001). Immigrants from Eastern Europe with low educational attainment have a higher probability of having at least three CVD risk factors compared with their native counterparts. In contrast, immigrants from Africa and Latin America with low educational attainment had a protective effect against having at least three CVD risk relative to natives. Health prevention and promotion strategies to reduce the burden of CVD taking should account for educational attainment given its differential effect among the immigrant population in Spain.

Erosion of universal health coverage and trend in the frequency of physician consultations in Spain

BackgroundWe studied the frequency of physician visits in the native and immigrant populations in Spain before and after implementation of a governmental measure to restrict the use of public healthcare services by undocumented immigrants beginning in 2012.MethodsData were taken from the 2009 and 2014 European Health Surveys carried out in Spain. We investigated any physician consultation in the last 4 weeks before the interview, as well as visits to a family physician, public specialist physician and private specialist physician. We estimated the frequency of visits in 2009 and in 2014 in the native and immigrant populations and the difference in the frequency between the two populations, by calculating the percentage ratio estimated by binomial regression and adjusted for different confounders that are indicators of the need for assistance.ResultsThe percentage of persons who consulted any physician in 2009 and 2014 was 31.7 and 32.9% in the native population, and 25.6 and 30.1% in the immigrant population, respectively. In the immigrant population, the frequency of visits to the general practitioner and public specialist physician increased, whereas in the native population only public specialist physician visits increased. The frequency of private specialist visits remained stable in both populations. After adjusting for the indicators of need for healthcare, no significant differences between the immigrant and native populations were seen in the frequency of visits, except for private specialist consultations, which were less frequent among immigrants.ConclusionThe restriction of universal healthcare coverage in Spain did not reduce the frequency of physician visits between 2009 and 2014, as the frequency of these consultations was seen to increase in both the native and immigrant populations.

Frecuencia de consultas al médico en población adulta en España, antes y después de la restricción de acceso a los inmigrantes indocumentados

ObjectiveTo study the frequency of medical consultations in autochthonous and immigrant populations in Spain, before and after a government measure of 2012 that restricted the use of public health services to undocumented immigrants. Material and methodsThe data were taken from the European Health Surveys in Spain in 2009 and 2014. An analysis was made of the consultations with the family doctor and the consultations with the medical specialist in autochthonous and immigrant populations from 18 to 64 years. Percentage increases were calculated in the frequency of people who consulted in 2014 with respect to 2009, and, in each year, the percentage ratio (PR) of consultation in immigrants with respect autochthonous, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). ResultsThe frequency of consultations increased in 2014 compared to 2009, with the exception of family doctor's consultation with the autochthonous women. The highest increases occurred in visits to medical specialists in immigrants (39.9%), in autochthonous (21.6%), and in visits by the family doctor to immigrant women. After adjusting for age and socioeconomic variables and indicators of need for assistance, there were no significant differences in both years between immigrants and autochthonous in the 2types of consultations. ConclusionsThe frequency of consultations to the family doctor or medical specialist did not decrease in Spain between 2009 and 2014 in the immigrant population.

Healthy Immigrant Effect: Trayectoria de salud de la población inmigrante a partir de la ENSE 2011-2012

El objetivo principal de este artículo es estudiar la dinámica de salud de la población inmigrante en España y aportar evidencia empírica que demuestre la existencia del Healthy Immigrant Effect. Se utilizan datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de España 2011-2012 y se estiman diferentes modelos probabilísticos, tomando como variables de resultado indicadores de salud autopercibida, presencia de trastornos crónicos y limitaciones de actividad. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la población inmigrante presenta un mejor estado de salud que la nacional. Se obtiene también evidencia a favor del Healthy Immigrant Effect, dado que el estado de salud tiende a empeorar con el tiempo de residencia en el país, convergiendo hacia los niveles de salud de la población nacional. Desde el punto de vista de los sistemas sanitarios, el estudio de las diferencias en salud en la población extranjera, y su evolución temporal, se muestra relevante para garantizar el acceso de la población inmigrante a los diferentes servicios de salud y atender a unas necesidades que varían con el tiempo transcurrido desde que se produce la migración.

What is the diet of the immigrant population resident in Spain? Results based on a systematic review

Diet is a principal determinant of health and is interrelated with socioeconomic factors and the acculturation of immigrants. The aim of this study was to examine the existing evidence on food, nutrition, and diet amongst immigrant populations in Spain, its relationships with their countries of origin, and to evaluate the methodological quality of these studies. A systematic review was carried out that included seventeen cross-sectional studies, 71% of them were of average quality and only one was excellent; seven dealt with adolescents and ten dealt with adults, with a total of 9,871 participants. Insights on immigrant diet and nutrition were heterogeneous because the participant groups in these studies were from several different countries, each of which has distinct cultural and geographical characteristics. Adolescent diet was of lower quality, positively correlated to socioeconomic level; acculturation and length of residence were related to both positive (such as healthier dietary patterns, better adhesion to intake recommendations) and negative aspects (higher intake of meat or bakery products, lower intake of vegetables or fish, among others). Adults show a better intake of macronutrients, but a lower intake of micronutrients and non-observance of some intake recommendations; acculturation and length of residence were related to healthier dietary patterns, significantly related to type of employment. Immigrants from Mediterranean countries show a healthier diet than other immigrants, although the quality of their diet is worse than that of their peers in their countries of origin. Finally, the quality of the diet of non-Mediterranean immigrants improves when they become resident in Spain.

Differences in Eye Health, Access to Eye Care Specialists and Use of Lenses among Immigrant and Native-Born Workers in Spain.

Latin American immigrants make up 49% of the total immigrant population in Spain, yet little is known about their eye health. The aim of this study is to determine if there are differences in self-perceived eye health, access to eye care specialists, and use of lenses between a sample of Latin American immigrant workers from Colombia and Ecuador, and native-born workers in Spain. We used data from the PELFI cohort (Project for Longitudinal Studies of Immigrant Families). The sample consisted of 179 immigrant workers born in Colombia or Ecuador, and 83 Spanish-born workers. The outcome variables were self-perceived eye health, access to eye specialists, and use of lenses. A descriptive analysis of the sample was carried out, and the prevalence of the three outcome variables in immigrants and natives was calculated and adjusted for explanatory variables. Random effects logistic regression models examined eye health outcomes by workers’ country of birth. Immigrants are less likely to report poor self-perceived eye health than native-born (ORc 0.46; CI 95%, 0.22–0.96). Furthermore, they have less access to specialists (ORc 2.61; CI 95%, 1.32–5.15) and a higher probability of needing lenses but not having them (ORc 14.14; CI 95%, 1.77–112.69). This latter variable remained statistically significant after adjusting for covariates (ORa 34.05; CI 95%, 1.59–729.04). Latin American immigrants may not value the use of lenses, despite eye care specialists indicating that they need them. Eye health education is required to recognize the importance of using lenses according to their visual needs.

Analysis of the Entrepreneurial Immigrant Profile in Spain

Abstract Although the immigrant population in Spain has decreased due to the economic crisis of the past five years, few studies have analysed this group. The objective of this research has been to profile the immigrant who decides to start a business in Spain. In order to learn about the probability of immigrant workers being entrepreneurs as a function of their socio-demographic characteristics, data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics from 2005 to 2016 have been analysed and fieldwork carried out during August and September 2016 on immigrants who are self-employed. The results show a lower rate of entrepreneurship in the immigrant population vis-a-vis the native population and the fact that creating their own business begins at an earlier age for immigrants when compared to the national average.

What Is the Attitude Toward Cadaveric Organ Donation of the Ghanian Residents in Spain?

IntroductionThe Ghanaian population is migrating toward the European economic community, especially toward the southern countries. ObjectiveTo analyze the attitude toward organ donation among the population born in Ghana but currently residing in Spain. MethodThe study included the population born in Ghana who are ≥ 15 years of age and residents of Spain, stratified by age and sex. The assessment instrument used is the donation and transplant attitude questionnaire of Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante (PCID-DTO Ríos), which was self-administered and anonymously completed with verbal consent. The statistics used were descriptive, χ2, Student t test, and a logistic regression analysis. ResultsThe questionnaire was completed by 237 Ghanaians. Forty-three percent (n = 102) are in favor of cadaveric organ donation, 35% (n = 83) are against donating their own organs, and 20% (n = 48) are undecided. In the multivariate analysis, the association was maintained at the level of the primary studies (P < .001, OR = 25), not being afraid of possible mutilation after donating (P < .001, OR = 76.923), religion (P < .001; OR = 27.777), performing prosocial activities (P = .016, OR = 12.048), and having previously commented on the issue of organ donation and transplantation in the family setting (P = .012, OR = 4.878). ConclusionsThe Ghanaian immigrant population in Spain has an unfavorable attitude toward the donation of their own organs at death, which is conditioned by multiple psychosocial factors.

Factors related to the feeding of immigrants in Spain through a systematic review of epidemiological studies

Rationale: While Spain has one of the largest immigrant populations in Europe, comparatively little work in the country has focused on immigrant health. Nutrition studies contain important insight for this work because they link a principal determinant of health (diet) to a nexus of interrelated socioeconomic and environmental factors (e.g. acculturation) that influence immigrant health. The objective to examine the existing evidence on food, nutrition, and diet among immigrant populations in Spain.

Health inequalities between male and female immigrants in Spain after the beginning of the economic crisis.

The aim of this study was to analyse health inequalities in the immigrant population in Spain in 2014, while differentiating between immigrant and native-born men and women. We have designed a cross-sectional study on the population aged over 15years resident in Spain and the data were obtained from the 2014 European Health Survey in Spain (n=22,842). Among immigrant men and women, we observed a lower risk of having a Chronic Physical Problem (CPP) or a Mental Health Problem (MHP) and a lower consumption of psychiatric drugs. We also observed a higher risk of lack of medical care in immigrant men compared to native-born. The country of origin was not significantly related to self-perception of health or use of Primary Care (PC) and Emergency Care services. In conclusion, we observed that now that the peak of the crisis has passed it seems that the "healthy immigrant" effect is being recovered, although the gender inequalities observed in the general population are transferred to the immigrant population. We need to approach the feminisation of migration from a new perspective and understand how inequalities affect immigrant women.

Linguistic and cultural rights of immigrant students in Catalonia: perspectives and practices of educators in four elementary schools

ABSTRACT A growing and increasingly diverse immigrant population in Spain, and in particular in the region of Catalonia, places new and challenging demands on the educational system. In this study, we use a minority language rights framework to examine how Catalan educators conceptualize the linguistic and cultural rights of immigrant students, and the instructional and organizational practices they use to respond to the needs of these students within Catalan immersion programs. Interviews with teachers and principals and observations in classrooms and schoolyards were carried out in four elementary schools in two urban areas in Catalonia. Findings indicated that educators were adhering to a policy focus on the goal of social cohesion through Catalan language use and instruction; however, neither instructional strategies for non-native speakers of Catalan, nor use of their home languages for instructional support, were much in evidence. Although occasional efforts were reported to recognize students’ home cultures in celebrations and activities at school, educators tended to view the home cultures in largely deficit terms. De facto segregation in schools serving almost exclusively immigrant students was identified by educators as a challenge both for elementary school instruction and for subsequent social integration of immigrant youth into Catalan society.

Nigerian Immigrant Population in Spain Is Little Sensitized to Living-Related Kidney Donation

BackgroundThe Nigerian population is an emerging group in Spain and in Europe, but their sensitization toward living kidney donation has not been studied. The aim of this work was to analyze the attitude toward related renal donation while alive among the population born in Nigeria resident in Spain. MethodsA population older than 15 years born in Nigeria and resident in Spain, stratified by age and sex, was studied with the use of the attitude questionnaire about living kidney donation, “PCID-DVR-Ríos.” People were randomly selected based on stratification. African immigration support associations advised on the location of potential respondents. Completion of the questionnaire was anonymous and self-administered. Verbal consent was requested to assist in the study. Statistical methods included Student t test, χ2, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression analysis. ResultsA total of 179 respondents were included in the study: 70% (n = 125) were in favor of living-related kidney donation, and 30% (n = 54) remained against or undecided. This attitude was associated with different psychosocial factors: marital status (P = .001), having offspring (P = .029), risk assessment of live donation (P < .001), partner's opinion about donation (P < .001), previous relationship with donation and/or transplantation (P < .001), religion (P < .001), and fear of mutilation after donation (P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, the previous relationship with donation and/or transplantation (odds ratio, 8.064) persisted as the main related factor. ConclusionsThe Nigerian immigrant population in Spain has a less favorable attitude toward living kidney donation than the native western European and Spanish population.

Migración y ciudadanía. La lógica de la asignación de derechos en la acción social

Exponemos las aportaciones de la reflexión antropológica acerca de la relación entre las formas de inclusión de la población inmigrante en España y el reconocimiento de los DESC y la ciudadanía. Asistimos al tránsito de la idea clásica de “ciudadanía social” de Marshall basada en la universalidad de derechos a una visión segmentada del acceso a los derechos en un contexto global neoliberal, en el cual la ciudadanía se convierte en un mecanismo de exclusión y no de inclusión. Describimos la producción de la alteridad del inmigrante pauperizado y peligroso, que dan paso a su inclusión diferencial. En ese proceso clasificatorio el ordenamiento jurídico y la gestión institucional juegan un papel clave, legitimadas mediante los discursos de la escasez y la seguridad. Así, reflexionamos sobre la función del trabajo social en este contexto y la tensión entre modelos dirigidos al control social frente a otros que emplean lógicas transformadoras y de lucha por la equidad y la justicia social.

Nutritional Assessment of the Immigrant Ecuadorian Population in Spain Based on a 24-h Food Recall

There is little information on diet of Ecuadorian immigrant population in Spain. The study carried out a nutritional assessment of the diet of the Ecuadorian immigrant population in Spain to determine differences in food patterns and possible nutritional deficiencies. The nutritional assessment was based on a 24-h food recall survey applied to the Ecuadorian population residing in Murcia (Spain) in combination with the application of national and international food composition data bases. Nutrient intake levels and fulfillment of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) were estimated and statistically tested for social, sex, age and geographical factors. Macronutrient distributions and nutrient intake levels in relation with DRIs were adequate in most cases. Importantly, Ecuadorian food habits were still present in immigrant population, with rice being the main energy source. Intakes levels were significantly different for several nutrients depending on age group, sex, place of residence and professional.

The role of communicative acts in the Dream process: engaging Moroccan migrants in a community development initiative in urban Spain

AbstractThe present article offers relevant insights into how the evidence-based community development initiative known as the Dream process has had a positive impact on the inclusion, participation and leadership of a marginalized community of Moroccan immigrants in urban Spain. More specifically, we analyse how the commitment to promote dialogic communicative acts and to reduce power communicative acts during the process has attenuated some of the race, gender and class barriers that hindered the community’s involvement in dialogic and decision-making spaces aimed at improving their living conditions. In this article, we first introduce the state of the art using studies that have examined the role of interaction and deliberation in community development processes in disadvantaged contexts. Then, we briefly refer to the deterioration of the living conditions of the Moroccan immigrant population in Spain. Finally, we present the main results obtained from the qualitative case study research carried out through the implementation of the communicative methodology. This case study provides both theoretical claims and practical orientations to examine how dialogic approaches can contribute to community development processes in contexts severely affected by racial segregation and poverty.