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PubMed2005

Comparative description of migrant farmworkers versus other students attending rural south Texas schools: substance use, work, and injuries.

CONTEXT: Little is known about substance use, work characteristics, and injuries of youth from migrant farmworker families. Some evidence suggests that migrant youth may be at greater risk for substance use and work-related injuries than nonmigrant youth. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare substance use, employment, and injury data from migrant and nonmigrant youth residing in rural South Texas. METHODS: Anonymous cross-sectional survey data were collected from 7,302 middle and 3,565 high school students during a regular class. Classification as a migrant student occurred if the student responded positively to: "Does your family move around the state or nation to pick fruits or vegetables for work?" RESULTS: About 5% of South Texas middle and high school students reported belonging to a migrant family. Compared to nonmigrant students, migrant youth were more likely to report frequent substance use. Youth belonging to migrant families were less likely to work for pay on weekends but more likely to work for pay on weekday mornings before school. These youth were also more likely to have ever been injured while working than nonmigrant students. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a need for additional interventions in this most vulnerable rural population. Specifically, targeted educational programs to enhance the occupational safety and health of migrant youth, further research into effective substance abuse treatment and prevention programs in rural areas, and enhancement of child labor laws are recommended.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

[Migrant population life style and health status characteristics].

To clarify migrant population characteristics, we examined the relationship between out-migration from study areas during a 3 year follow-up period and health status, life style, and socioeconomic factors obtained at the initial baseline survey in a cohort study involving 15, 493 males and 17,440 females. Characteristics of inter-prefectural out-migrants were summarized as follows: 1) A significantly higher proportion of inter-prefectural out-migrants were employees of relatively large companies, family members of these employees, white collar workers in the case of males, and housewives in the case of females. 2) Inter-prefectural out-migrants had relatively good health status and high participation in cancer screening tests. 3) The dietary habits of inter-prefectural out-migrants were more westernized and well-balanced. 4) Male inter-prefectural out-migrants had a higher proportion of heavy smokers and daily drinkers, while females had lower proportion of smokers and drinkers. When comparing in-migrants to out-migrants, the characteristics were similar for males, but opposite for females.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medical utilization patterns of migrant farm workers in Wayne County, New York.

A representative sample of 218 migrant farm workers was randomly drawn in Wayne County, NY, during the summer of 1982. Three distinct migrant groups were identified: immigrants, recent migrants, and long-term migrants. Medical utilization patterns, including physician visits and use of medical services in the community health center, were compared among the three migrant groups. The determinants of physician visits were examined in a multiple regression model. The focus was also placed on types of health problems for which medical treatment had been delayed, and the reasons for the delay were clearly identified. Furthermore, this study examined migrants' subjective assessment of quality of health care in the community. The results of this study indicate that the provision of comprehensive health programs, removal of structural barriers in the health delivery system, and a program of migrant health education are the necessary steps to alter the medical utilization behavior of migrant farm workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The British-Norwegian migrant study--analysis of parameters of mortality differentials associated with angina.

The prevalence of selected cardiorespiratory symptoms was ascertained by a common mail questionnaire for 73,884 men and women in the United States, Great Britain and Norway. The study groups were identified in the early 1960's and included 30,033 British and Norwegian migrants to the United States and 43,851 non-migrants who resided in Great Britain and Norway. The main study objectives were to contrast the morbidity and mortality experience of the migrant and non-migrant groups in the light of known national differences in mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases in the early 1960's. At that time, the U.S. had the highest death rates from coronary heart disease while Great Britain had the highest rates for lung cancer and for chronic non-specific lung disease. Norway had the lowest rates for all three rubrics. The prevalence of "angina" and other symptoms was ascertained for each of the study groups. Contrary to expectation, angina was reported much more frequently by persons remaining in Britain and Norway than by migrants to the United States. Mortality rates during the five years and responding to the symptoms questionnaire were determined and mortality patterns were evaluated according to the presence or absence of angina. Angina was found to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality. In the absence of angina, it was observed that migrants had similar mortality rates to non-migrants regardless of country of origin. However, the British had higher mortality rates from cardiovascular and from non-cardiovascular causes than the Norwegians. The primary determinant of angina prevalence was found to be migration status. It is believed that this differential was determined primarily by selection of those who migrate, with the migrants to the U.S. being a healthier group than their counterparts remaining in the native country.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Migrant studies in multiple sclerosis.

To re-evaluate how migrant studies contribute to our understanding of the epidemiology and aetiology of multiple sclerosis, we undertook a systematic review of all relevant studies published in English language journals, comparing rates of multiple sclerosis in migrant populations with those in the host country and in the country of origin. Interpretation of migrant studies is difficult. Migrants are seldom representative of the country of origin, tending to be younger, healthier and of higher socioeconomic status. Data quality may be poor, and lack of age-standardisation can mislead when rates are compared. Nevertheless, two consistent patterns can be discerned in these studies of the effect of migration on risk of multiple sclerosis. Migrants who move from an area where the disease is common to an area where it is rarer show a decrease in rate of disease. By contrast, people who migrate in the opposite direction tend to retain the low risk of their country of origin. Results from the few studies which have examined the effect of age at migration on risk of multiple sclerosis suggest that an individual's risk of the disease is largely established during the first two decades of life. Risk of multiple sclerosis can change rapidly between generations: although migrants from low risk countries to high risk countries retain their low risk, their children have a risk of multiple sclerosis that approaches that of the host country. Migrant studies add little to our understanding of the genetics of multiple sclerosis but they emphasise the importance of environmental factors. We discuss several possible interpretations of the patterns seen in migrant studies, including the hypothesis that multiple sclerosis is a sequel to delayed exposure to a common infectious agent. One candidate for such an infectious agent is Epstein-Barr virus.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

The self-image of Greek, Greek-migrant and German adolescents.

This paper provides an empirical perspective on the relationship between immigration and self-image in a sample of German and Greek adolescents. The subjects were Greeks (non-migrants, n = 128), Germans (n = 103) and Greek migrants living in West Germany (n = 103). The Offer Self-image Questionnaire (OISQ) was used as a multidimensional measure of psychological, social and sexual self, and family relations. Comparisons were made between the mean scores of the three national groups on subscales of the OSIQ. Greek migrants had quite distinct self-image profiles that were intermediate between non-migrating Greeks and native Germans. Gender and age differences in self-image were pronounced in sub-scales of the OSIQ. Migrants were more emotional than non-migrants, less introverted, more liberal in their sexual attitudes and displayed superior adjustment. Compared with their German counterparts, migrants emerged as more impulsive and emotional, with an inferior body image, higher achievement motivation, lower mental ill-health but with higher adjustment. The results showed that when both Greek samples (non-migrants and migrants) were taken together and compared to Germans then differences emerged and indicated small but significant cross-cultural differences in personality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Complaints and health care system utilisation of ethnic German migrants from the former Soviet Union to Germany and their families].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is the description of subjective morbidity, health care system utilisation and complaints of ethnic German migrants from the former Soviet Union at the beginning of migration. At present no data are available concerning aspects of health behaviour among this largest immigrant population in Germany. METHODS: 300 ethnic German migrants and their families (mean age 37.2 and 51% female) were interrogated shortly after migration to Germany. They answered questions about prevalence of diseases, health care system utilization, actual health status and completed the Giessen Subjective Complaints List (GSCL-24). German standards exist for all questionnaires. RESULTS: 237 ethnic German migrants report to have suffered from at least one disease during the course of the last year. They see the gynaecologist and dentist as often as the German population, pay fewer visits to practitioners and specialists but seek more medical advice from the medical lay system. The majority of subjects are satisfied with their health. Migrants describe their health status as lower than the German population compared to which they also report more complaints (Overall distress in GSCL-24 : 17.2 for migrants and 14.0 for Germans) and different complaints (headaches, fatigue). CONCLUSIONS: The different medical care system and differences in the treatment of patients could account for the less frequent use of medical services by ethnic German migrants. Actual stressors like language differences and acculturation problems are discussed as possible reasons for the increased rate of complaints among ethnic German migrants. Although they suffer from more complaints the German migrants do not seem to modify their help-seeking behaviour.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1991

Cancer incidence in Hawaiian Japanese: migrants from Okinawa compared with those from other prefectures.

Japanese men in Hawaii whose ancestral roots were in Okinawa were compared to Japanese migrants from all other prefectures. The Okinawan migrants have acquired fewer cancers than men from other prefectures (P = 0.12). No one primary site accounts for this difference. Stomach cancer rates showed the largest difference between the two migrant groups. This replicates the experience of Okinawans and non-Okinawans in Japan itself. Lymphosarcoma mortality rates are much higher in Okinawa than in all Japan, but this difference is not reproduced in Hawaiian migrants. This could be explained by a post migrational decrease in HTLV-I-related acute T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. Cancer of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus has decreased in all Japanese migrants, but the decrease is much greater among Okinawan migrants, suggesting they have escaped exposure to risk factors peculiar to the Okinawan environment. Colon cancer is more common in migrant Japanese than in U.S. whites. The dramatic increase in the frequency of this tumor affects Okinawan and non-Okinawan migrants to an equal degree.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

No difference in HIV incidence and sexual behaviour between out-migrants and residents in rural Manicaland, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES: Migration is associated with HIV infection, but the relationship has been mostly assessed in cross-sectional studies. In a prospective study, we investigated whether out-migrants are a selection of high-risk individuals and whether rural-to-urban migration results in risky sexual behaviour for HIV incidence. METHODS: A population cohort was enrolled in a stratified household census in four different community types in Manicaland, east Zimbabwe, between July 1998 and February 2000, and followed-up after 3 years. Out-migrants to the national capital (Harare), the provincial capital (Mutare) and other study areas were followed-up. A structured questionnaire was administered and an HIV test was conducted at each interview. HIV prevalence and sexual risk behaviour at baseline, and HIV incidence and sexual behaviour during follow-up were compared for out-migrants and residents. RESULTS: At baseline, future migrants were significantly younger, better educated and more likely to be single than residents. For males, migration was highest from subsistence farming areas and roadside trading centres and lowest from estates. After adjusting for age, education, marital status and location, there were no differences in HIV prevalence and sexual risk behaviour between future migrants and residents at baseline, for either sex. No significant differences in HIV incidence or sexual behaviour during follow-up were detected between rural-to-urban out-migrants and residents. CONCLUSIONS: Out-migrants from rural Zimbabwe did not have higher levels of HIV infection or sexual risk behaviour than residents either before or after they moved. These findings may be related to the mature stage of the HIV epidemic and the social and living conditions of migrants in Zimbabwean cities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Generalised obesity and regional adiposity in adult white and migrant Muslim males from Pakistan in Peterborough.

A comparative study was made of generalised obesity (body mass index; BMI) and the regional distribution of adiposity (measured as circumferences and circumference ratios) in adult White and migrant Muslim males from Pakistan in Peterborough. No significant difference in the prevalence of obesity as measured by the BMI was observed between Whites and Pakistani migrants. Although the mean BMI values were similar in both groups, they had distinctly different body fat patterning. Whites had significantly more upper body, central body and lower body adiposity compared with Pakistani migrants. They also had significantly more total fat as well as upper body:lower body, upper body:central body, and upper body: total fat indices. Within the central body, Whites had significantly more adiposity in the waist region relative to abdomen region (Waist:Abdomen ratio). However, Pakistani migrants had significantly more abdominal adiposity relative to total adiposity (Abdomen:Sum of All Circumferences ratio) than Whites. These preliminary results clearly indicate that there is a tendency for accumulation of adiposity in the abdominal region in Asian men of Pakistani origin compared with White men irrespective of the level of generalised adiposity. The health implications of body fat patterning on non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and coronary heart disease (CHD) are well-known. The pattern of fat distribution observed in migrant Pakistani males in this study may exist in other migrant groups originating from the Indian sub-continent and could be one of the risk factors predisposing migrant Asians (persons originating from the Indian sub-continent) in Britain to develop NIDDM and CHD irrespective of their generalised (BMI) obesity. Future epidemiological studies should lay more emphasis on morphological fat patterning instead of BMI in Asian migrants in Britain.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

Depression in first generation labour migrants in Western Europe: the utility of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

OBJECTIVE: The number of elderly migrants from Turkish and Moroccan descent in Western Europe will increase sharply in the coming decades. Identifying depressed elderly migrants necessitates a screening instrument that is both acceptable and has good psychometric properties. This study examines the utility of Turkish and Arabic translations of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) among elderly labour migrants from Turkish and Moroccan descent in the Netherlands. METHOD: The data were derived from a community based health survey among 304 native Dutch, 330 Turkish and 299 Moroccan migrants, aged 55-74 years, living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Acceptability, reliability, convergent and construct validity were studied. RESULTS: Acceptability of the CES-D was satisfactory, although Moroccan migrants and Turkish females had difficulty answering one or more of the (interpersonal) items from the CES-D. Translated versions of the CES-D proved to be highly internal consistent and have good convergent validity in both Turkish and Moroccan elderly. Depressed and somatic items were much more intermingled in Turkish and Moroccan elderly compared to earlier studies and native Dutch elderly. This fits to the hypothesis that Turkish and Moroccan elderly migrants tend to somatize their depressive symptoms much more than native Western elderly. CONCLUSION: The utility of the CES-D for elderly migrants of Turkish and Moroccan descent was found to be satisfactory.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Cancer mortality in Italian migrants and their offspring in Canada.

Studies on the offspring of migrants provide important information on the contribution of environmental and genetic factors in the etiology of various cancers. The aim of the present study is to analyze the cancer risk in Italian-migrants (Canadian residents born in Italy) and their offspring compared with the host population. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) by site and birthplace categories (migrants, pure and mixed Italian-parentage Canadians) were calculated by means of a case-control study using the 'other cancer deaths' as controls and taking the host population as the reference category. The study shows that Italian migrants retain a significantly low risk for a series of cancers: colon (OR = 0.9 in males and 0.7 in females); lung (OR = 0.8 in males and 0.5 in females); and breast (OR = 0.9). For all of these sites, risks in the offspring of Italian migrants were not different from those of the host population, with some differences between the genders with respect to cancer of the colon. Stomach cancer presents a significantly high rate in migrants (OR = 1.9 in males and 2.4 in females), consistent with the population of Italy; in their offspring, risks are similar to those in the host population. The risk of cancer in the offspring of migrants is, for many sites, intermediate between the host population and the Canadian residents born in Italy. This finding possibly is related to the larger integration of the offspring than their parents in the cultural and social environment of the host population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Cancer mortality among sub-Saharan African migrants in France.

Not only are there few data on sub-Saharan migrant populations, but relatively little information is available on cancer patterns in Africa. This report presents cancer mortality patterns among the 290,000 sub-Saharan African migrants in France. Risks of mortality from different cancers in migrants born in West, Central, East, and 'Other' parts of Africa have been compared with that observed in the local-born population, using mortality data from the period 1979-85 and population data from the 1982 French census. Relative risks were adjusted for important confounding factors such as social class and area of residence. Compared with natives, overall mortality from cancer is lower in sub-Saharan African migrants. Higher cancer mortality risks, however, are observed among males for several sites: liver in Central and West Africans; bladder in West Africans; and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Other African migrants. For females, risks were elevated for nasopharyngeal cancers in Other African and liver in West African migrants. The results are, for the most part, consistent with the few available data on cancer patterns in Africa, and with the patterns observed in African migrants to England and Wales (UK).

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[A basic set of indicators for mapping migrant status. Recommendations for epidemiological practice].

Data on the health status of migrants are still scarce. One of the reasons for this is that migration status has not been well recorded in official statistics and epidemiological studies. In order to obtain an adequate and standardised operationalisation of migrant status, we first need an exact definition of the terms "migrant" and "migration background". We discuss approaches to the definition of terms and the surveying of ethnic minorities and migrants, and then develop a basic set of migration status indicators for use in epidemiological research. This set of indicators includes country of birth of the father and mother, year of immigration, mother tongue, German language skills and status of residence. The key indicator for the identification of migrants is the country of birth of the parents and not the nationality as was previously often the case. Thus, the classification based on the judicial category of nationality is replaced by a classification based on the biographical event "migration". Migration brings with it specific life conditions and challenges that can impact health across several generations. An instrument for surveying migrant status must be further developed both to reflect the special conditions of the life situation resulting from the migration experience and to take as full account as possible of all aspects of a migrant's history.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Mortality in North Korean migrant households: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A deteriorating economy, coupled with a series of natural disasters in 1995-97, led to a severe food crisis in North Korea. Although the country has received substantial international aid since 1996, demographic assessments of crisis impact have been limited. We assessed mortality trends in North Korea since 1995. METHODS: At 15 randomly selected sites in China, 440 North Korean adult migrants were interviewed during July-September, 1998. Respondents were asked about births, deaths, and migration patterns in their households between mid-1994 and mid-1998, and about household food sources. The respondents also provided basic demographic information about the households of their relatives. We compared mortality rates from migrant households with data from the 1993 census and with data about households of non-migrant relatives. FINDINGS: Households that included a recent migrant to China showed increasing mortality: crude death rates rose from 28.9 per 1000 in 1995, to 45.6 per 1000 in 1996, and to 56.0 per 1000 in 1997 (p=0.0001), with a 3-year average rate of 42.8 per 1000. The crude 3-year birth rate was 11.0 per 1000. Average household size declined from 4.0 at the beginning of 1995 to 3.4 at the end of 1997 (p=0.0002). Among 259 households of non-migrant relatives, the crude death rate was 43.2 per 1000 and the crude birth rate was 8.8 per 1000. In these households, the 3-year trend of increasing mortality was significant (p=0.001), as was the decline in average household size from 4.3 at the beginning of 1995 to 3.7 at the end of 1997 (p=0.0001). INTERPRETATION: Among North Korean households that include a recent migrant to China, mortality has increased and household size has declined since 1995. This trend raises concern about the state of the general population, at least in the province of North Hamkyong, from where most of the migrants originated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Migrant children--a challenge for European paediatricians.

UNLABELLED: Each year, tens of thousands of children seek asylum in Europe. Irregular immigration, family reunification programmes and labour migrants contribute additional large populations to the migrant scene in Europe. Paediatricians struggle to find solutions to their needs of health and medical care within different societal and political contexts on a common platform of children's rights and medical ethics. CONCLUSIONS: Migrant children have important health and protection needs. Paediatricians can improve the health and well-being of migrant children by assuring access to paediatric healthcare regardless of the child's legal status. Paediatricians can play an important role in advocating for migrant children in their local community, through concerted activities of national paediatric societies, and through the international paediatric community. National paediatric societies need to put migrant children high on their agenda in discussions with policy and decision makers. Initiatives are needed to create platforms within the international paediatric community where practical strategies to the multitude of issues touched upon by migrant children can be exchanged and international advocacy organized.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Marginal malnutrition and reduced physical work capacity of migrant adolescent boys in Southern Brazil.

We measured the effect of marginal malnutrition on physical work capacity of adolescent children of agricultural migrant workers in Southern Brazil. Nutritional status was evaluated using 24-h dietary recall. Body size was evaluated anthropometrically. Biochemical assessments were also made. Physical work capacity (PWC170) was assessed by measuring heart rate, blood lactic acid levels, and oxygen consumption during submaximal bicycle ergometer work. The same tests were also carried out on a comparable group of local well-to-do boys of the same age in the same community who served as controls. The dietary results suggest that adolescent boys of migrant families were marginally malnourished. Their physical growth and development were retarded by at least 1 yr. They had significantly lower reserves of body fat and less muscle mass when compared with controls. Their Hb levels were normal. At the submaximal work loads measured (0, 25, 50, 75 W) the migrant children exhibited similar oxygen consumption and gross exercise efficiency as the control children, but achieved this work at a higher percentage of their maximum work capacity as shown by significantly higher heart rates for the same oxygen consumption. Higher blood lactic acid levels in the migrant children suggest that the available muscle mass was under greater stress to accomplish the same task. PWC170 was reduced one-third in the migrant children (migrant 643 +/- 162 kpm/min, control 905 +/- 345 kpm/min; p less than 0.005). These differences were largely associated with weight (migrant 20.6 +/- 5.9 kpm/min; control 18.8 +/- 4.3 kpm/kg/min; p greater than 0.1). These observations suggest that marginal as well as severe malnutrition affect physical work capacity at levels low enough to affect growth and development.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1987

Migration and gout: the Tokelau Island migrant study.

The prevalence and 14 year incidence of clinical gout and its precursors were investigated in the Polynesian population of Tokelauans living in the Pacific basin, non-migrant Tokelauans living in their isolated atoll homeland being compared with migrant Tokelauans living in urban New Zealand. The age standardised prevalence of gout in Tokelauan men in New Zealand was higher than that in non-migrant Tokelauan men, being 21.0 and 19.5/1000 subjects at the beginning of the study and 51.0 and 14.6/1000 at the end of study, respectively. Migrant men in New Zealand aged under 55 had higher mean serum uric acid concentrations than non-migrant men of the same age. The prevalence of gout was low in women in both environments. The age standardised relative risk of developing gout between 1968 and 1982 was 9.0 times higher in the migrant men than in the non-migrant men. Age, serum uric acid concentration, serum cholesterol concentration, and self reported alcohol consumption at entry to the study were the best set of predictors of gout in men. Preventive strategies to change body mass, diet, and patterns of alcohol use need to be developed in this population.

Adolescent↗