Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-10-2010 | Original Article

Immigration, work and health in Spain: the influence of legal status and employment contract on reported health indicators

Authors: Emily Sousa, Andrés Agudelo-Suárez, Fernando G. Benavides, Marc Schenker, Ana M. García, Joan Benach, Carlos Delclos, María José López-Jacob, Carlos Ruiz-Frutos, Elena Ronda-Pérez, Victoria Porthé, On behalf of the ITSAL project

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 5/2010

Abstract

Objective

To analyze the relationship of legal status and employment conditions with health indicators in foreign-born and Spanish-born workers in Spain.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of 1,849 foreign-born and 509 Spanish-born workers (2008–2009, ITSAL Project). Considered employment conditions: permanent, temporary and no contract (foreign-born and Spanish-born); considered legal statuses: documented and undocumented (foreign-born). Joint relationships with self-rated health (SRH) and mental health (MH) were analyzed via logistical regression.

Results

When compared with male permanently contracted Spanish-born workers, worse health is seen in undocumented foreign-born, time in Spain ≤3 years (SRH aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.09–6.56; MH aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.15–4.42); in Spanish-born, temporary contracts (SRH aOR 2.40, 95% CI 1.04–5.53); and in foreign-born, temporary contracts, time in Spain >3 years (MH: aOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.13–3.38). In females, highest self-rated health risks are in foreign-born, temporary contracts (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.13–4.91) and without contracts, time in Spain >3 years (aOR 4.63, 95% CI 1.95–10.97).

Conclusions

Contract type is a health determinant in both foreign-born and Spanish-born workers. This study offers an uncommon exploration of undocumented migration and raises methodological issues to consider in future research.

Agudelo-Suarez A et al (2009) Discrimination, work and health in immigrant populations in Spain. Soc Sci Med 68:1866–1874CrossRefPubMed

Ahonen EQ (2009) Immigrants, work and health: a qualitative study. Dissertation, University Pompeu Fabra

Ahonen EQ et al (2009a) Invisible work, unseen hazards: the health of women immigrant household service workers in Spain. Am J Ind Med 53:405–416CrossRef

Ahonen EQ et al (2009b) A qualitative study about immigrant workers’ perceptions of their working conditions in Spain. J Epidemiol Commun Health 63:936–942CrossRef

Akhavan S et al (2004) Health in relation to unemployment and sick leave among immigrants in Sweden from a gender perspective. J Immigr Health 6:103–118CrossRefPubMed

Benach J, Muntaner C, Santana V (2007) Employment condition knowledge network (EMCOMET). Employment condition and health inequalities. Final Report to the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health

Bloch A (2007) Methodological challenges for national and multi-sited comparative survey research. J Refug Stud 20:230–247CrossRef

Borrell C et al (2008) Immigration and self-reported health status by social class and gender: the importance of material deprivation, work organisation and household labour. J Epidemiol Commun Health 62:e7CrossRef

Garcia AM et al (2009) Occupational health of immigrant workers in Spain [ITSAL Project]: key informants survey. Gac Sanit 23:91–97CrossRefPubMed

Goldberg D, Williams P (1996) General health questionnaire 12: user guide to the distinct versions. Mason, Spain

Goldberg DP et al (1997) The validity of two versions of the GHQ in the WHO study of mental illness in general health care. Psychol Med 27:191–197CrossRefPubMed

Gushulak BD, MacPherson DW (2006) The basic principles of migration health: population mobility and gaps in disease prevalence. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 3:3CrossRefPubMed

Idler EL, Benyamini Y (1997) Self-rated health and mortality: a review of twenty-seven community studies. J Health Soc Behav 38:21–37CrossRefPubMed

Kandula NR, Kersey M, Lurie N (2004) Assuring the health of immigrants: what the leading health indicators tell us. Annu Rev Public Health 25:357–376CrossRefPubMed

Lopez-Jacob MJ et al (2008) Occupational injury in foreign workers by economic activity and autonomous community (Spain 2005). Rev Esp Salud Publica 82:179–187CrossRefPubMed

Makowska Z et al (2002) The validity of general health questionnaires, GHQ-12 and GHQ-28, in mental health studies of working people. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 15:353–362PubMed

Newbold KB (2005) Self-rated health within the Canadian immigrant population: risk and the healthy immigrant effect. Soc Sci Med 60:1359–1370CrossRefPubMed

Porthé V (2009) Precarious employment in immigrants in Spain and its relationship with health: a qualitative approximation. Dissertation, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Reher D et al (2008) Immigrant National Survey Report (ENI-2007)

Rodriguez Alvarez E et al (2008) Sociodemographic variables and lifestyle as predictors of self-perceived health in immigrants in the Basque Country [Spain]. Gac Sanit 22:404–412CrossRefPubMed

Simich L, Wu F, Nerad S (2007) Status and health security: an exploratory study of irregular immigrants in Toronto. Can J Public Health 98:369–373PubMed

Spain (2000) Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España y su integración social

Spanish National Institute of Statistics—INE—Survey of the Active Population (EPA, 2008—4th Quarter) http://www.ine.es/

Virtanen M et al (2005) Temporary employment and health: a review. Int J Epidemiol 34:610–622CrossRefPubMed

Title: Immigration, work and health in Spain: the influence of legal status and employment contract on reported health indicators
Authors: Emily Sousa
Andrés Agudelo-Suárez
Fernando G. Benavides
Marc Schenker
Ana M. García
Joan Benach
Carlos Delclos
María José López-Jacob
Carlos Ruiz-Frutos
Elena Ronda-Pérez
Victoria Porthé
On behalf of the ITSAL project
Publication date: 01-10-2010
Publisher: SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 5/2010
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0141-8

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Immigration, work and health in Spain: the influence of legal status and employment contract on reported health indicators

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 5/2010

Risk of mental disorders in family reunification migrants and native Danes: a register-based historically prospective cohort study

Comparison of the health of Roma and non-Roma children living in the district of Teplice

Depressive symptoms among adults 18–69 years in Italy: results from the Italian behavioural risk factor surveillance system, 2007

Erratum to: Risk of mental disorders in family reunification migrants and native Danes: a register-based historically prospective cohort study

The impact of ethnicity, place of residence and socioeconomic status on health-related quality of life: results from a Greek health survey

Perception of the Ecuadorian population living in Barcelona regarding access to health services