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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-08-2011 | Original Article

Health disparities between immigrant and Danish cleaners

Authors: Marie B. Jørgensen, Charlotte D. N. Rasmussen, Isabella G. Carneiro, Mari-Ann Flyvholm, Kasper Olesen, Dorte Ekner, Karen Søgaard, Andreas Holtermann

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 6/2011

Abstract

Purpose

It is unknown whether immigrants working in the cleaning industry have a poorer health and work ability than cleaners from the native population. The main aim was to investigate differences in objective and self-reported health measures between immigrant and Danish cleaners.

Methods

Three hundred and fifty-one cleaners, consisting of 166 Danes (88% women) and 179 immigrants (74% women) (6 with unknown ethnicity), from 9 workplaces in Denmark participated in the study. Health and work ability were obtained by objective (e.g., BMI and blood pressure) and self-reported measures (e.g., work ability, self-rated health, and musculoskeletal symptoms). In order to investigate differences between Danish and immigrant cleaners, logistic regression analyses and General Linear Models were performed.

Results

When controlling for age, sex, workplace, job seniority, and smoking, more Danish compared with immigrant cleaners were current smokers (42% vs. 28%, p < 0.001 (not controlled for smoking)), had hypertension (46% vs. 26%, p < 0.05) and drank more alcohol (3.0 vs. 0.8 units per day, respectively, p < 0.001). Contrary, more immigrants compared with Danish cleaners were measured to be overweight (47% vs. 30%, p < 0.05), reported less than good work ability (57% vs. 42%, p < 0.01), considered it unthinkable/unsure to be able to perform work 2 years ahead (37% vs. 23%, p < 0.01), reported reduced self-rated health (46% vs. 38%, p < 0.01) and everyday pain in the neck/shoulder (28% vs. 11%, p < 0.01), wrist (18% vs. 7%, p < 0.01), and lower back (21% vs. 10%, p < 0.01). There were no differences in self-reported chronic diseases.

Conclusions

Although the health of the cleaners was alarmingly poor, the immigrant cleaners generally had a poorer self-reported health and work ability than the Danish cleaners. These findings highlight the need for occupational health actions among cleaners, particularly tailored to the immigrant subpopulation.

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Title: Health disparities between immigrant and Danish cleaners
Authors: Marie B. Jørgensen
Charlotte D. N. Rasmussen
Isabella G. Carneiro
Mari-Ann Flyvholm
Kasper Olesen
Dorte Ekner
Karen Søgaard
Andreas Holtermann
Publication date: 01-08-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 6/2011
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0607-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Health disparities between immigrant and Danish cleaners

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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