Abstract

RODRIGUEZ ALVAREZ, Elena; LANBORENA ELORDUI, Nerea; PEREDA RIGUERA, Celina  and  RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ, Alba. Impact in the utilisation of the health services of socio-demographic variables, life-style and self-rated health by immigrant groups living in the Basque Country, Spain. Rev. Esp. Salud Publica [online]. 2008, vol.82, n.2, pp.209-220. ISSN 2173-9110.

Background. The progressive incorporation of foreign population in our country requires the knowledge of the impact of these groups in our health system. The aim of this work is to identify the factors associated to the utilisation of the public health services of immigrant groups in the Basque Country. Methods: Descriptive cross-study with a convenience sample of 689 persons, consisting of 219 Maghribians (31.8%), 152 Sub-Saharians (22.1%), 167 Latino(a)s (24.2%) and 151 non-Communitarian Europeans (21.9%). Data base have been completed with data collected using the 2002 Regional Basque Health Interview Survey (ESCAV’2002). The multivariate analysis was performed by using the dicotomic logistic regression (software SPSS 13). Results: The utilisation of the health services by the immigrants was associated to the fact of be a woman (OR=3,37, IC=1,77-6,43), Maghribian (OR=3,35, IC=1,51-7,45) and to have a bad self-rated health (OR=2,22, IC=1,00-4,90). A major utilisation of the hospital urgency during the first two years of stage was found in Sub-Saharian (OR=4,12, IC=1,23-13,81) and non-Communitarian European (OR=3,56, IC=1,08-11,80) inmigrants. Conclusions. Results from this study allows to identify differences in the utilisation of public health services by immigrants in the CAPV, taking into account the sex, self-rated health, immigrant group and time of residence in the host country.

Keywords : Immigrants; Basque Country; Health services research; Life-style; Health Surveys; Health status.

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