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Recent Research on Immigrant Health from Statistics Canada’s Population Surveys. Jennifer Ali Statistics Canada. How do immigrants fare in comparison with people born in Canada on health and health-related indicators?. Immigrants relatively small proportion of population (16% of population)
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Recent Research on Immigrant Health from Statistics Canada’s Population Surveys Jennifer Ali Statistics Canada
How do immigrants fare in comparison with people born in Canada on health and health-related indicators?
Immigrants relatively small proportion of population (16% of population) • Need large study for comparisons • Statistics Canada: suitable large-scale data
Immigrant Research Using Statistics Canada Surveys • National Population Health Survey (NPHS) • 17, 605 respondents age 12 and over (1994/95) • cross-sectional and longitudinal components • Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) • over 131,000 respondents age 15 and over (cycle 1.1)
Other Surveys • Canada’s Alcohol and Other Drug Survey (CADS) • National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) • Health and Activity Limitations Survey (HALS) • General Social Surveys (GSS) • Administrative data
Health Indicators Studied • Physical health • Mental health • Health behaviors, determinants of health • Health service utilization
Trends in Findings across Studies • Healthy immigrant effect: In general, immigrants are either the same as Canadian-born or are healthier, have better health behaviors and use services less. • Variation among immigrants: • Gradient with duration in Canada • Findings most applicable to Non-European immigrants
Figure 1 * Significantly different from the reference category (p < 0.05 Data Source: 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey Claudio Perez. Health Status and Heath Behaviour among Immigrants. Supplement to Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003) 2002: 13: 89-100.
Figure 2 Data Source: 2000/0 Canadian Community Health Survey Jennifer Ali. Mental Health of Canada’s Immigrants. Supplement to Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003) 2002: 13: 101-111.
Figure 3 Data Source: 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey Jennifer Ali. Mental Health of Canada’s Immigrants. Supplement to Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003) 2002: 13: 101-111.
What do these studies tell us about immigrant health? • Cross-sectional patterns with representative samples: benchmarks established • Variation among immigrants important for health
Limitations and Future Research • Cohort effects likely • Processes of acculturation and change not studied • Focused longitudinal studies needed • Further examine subgroups among immigrants (e.g. refugees)
Limitations and Future Research • Role of cultural differences in understanding and reporting health • Non-response due to language barriers • New Survey: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada • 5,800 immigrants, 3 interviews over 4 years