Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2/2019

01-04-2019 | Original Paper

Healthcare Services Utilization Among Migrants in Portugal: Results From the National Health Survey 2014

Authors: A. Nabil Shaaban, Samantha Morais, Bárbara Peleteiro

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 2/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Migrants’ health is attracting substantial global interest. We aimed to identify barriers and differences in healthcare services utilization between migrants and natives in a nationally representative sample using data from the National Health Survey 2014. A total of 18,165 participants providing information on country of birth and nationality were included, and comparison of healthcare services utilization was made by using participants born in Portugal and with Portuguese nationality as the reference group. Migrants reported a lower frequency of medical visits, a higher consumption of medication without a prescription and less use of preventive care services. The main reasons for not attending medical consultations among migrants were the absence of need and financial difficulties. This study illustrates inequalities in healthcare use among migrants in Portugal, and provides useful information for enlightening policymakers and healthcare providers to develop health policies that can address migrants’ needs.
Literature
1.
O’Donnell CA, Burns N, Mair FS, et al. Reducing the health care burden for marginalised migrants: the potential role for primary care in Europe. Health Policy. 2016;120(5):495–508.CrossRef
2.
3.
Cabral S, Duarte C. Employment and wages of immigrants in Portugal. Portugal: Banco de Portugal Eurosistema; 2010.
4.
Migration Integration Policy Index Health Strand (MIPEX). Country report Portugal. Brussels: International Organization for Migration; 2015.
5.
Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras. Relatório de Imigração, Fronteiras e Asilo - 2016 [Immigration, Borders and Asylum - 2016]. Lisboa: SEF/GEPF, 2017.
6.
McKay L, Macintyre S, Ellaway A. Migration and health: a review of the international literature. Glasgow: MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit; 2003.
7.
Mladovsky P. Migrant health in the EU. Eurohealth 2007;13(1):9–11.
8.
Dias SF, Severo M, Barros H. Determinants of health care utilization by immigrants in Portugal. BMC Health Serv Res. 2008;8:207.CrossRef
9.
Ingleby D, Ethnicity migration and the ‘social determinants of health’ Agenda. Psychosoc Interv. 2012;21(3):331–41.CrossRef
10.
Maffla C. Health in the age of migration: migration and health in the EU. Community Pract. 2008;81(8):32.PubMed
11.
Barros P, Machado S, de Almeida Simões J, Portugal health system review. Health Syst Transit. 2011;13(4):1–156.PubMed
12.
de Almeida Simoes J, Augusto GF, Fronteira I, et al. Portugal: health system review. Health Syst Transit. 2017;19(2):1–184.PubMed
13.
European Commission. Your social security rights in Portugal. Brussels: Employment SAI; 2013.
14.
Hacker K, Anies M, Folb BL, et al. Barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants: a literature review. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2015;8:175.CrossRef
15.
Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Documento metodológico do Inquérito Nacional de Saúde 2014 [Methodological document of the National Health Survey 2014]. Lisbon: INE, 2014.
16.
Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Inquérito Nacional de Saúde 2014 [National Health Survey 2014]. Lisbon: INE, 2016.
17.
Stanciole AE, Huber M. Access to health care for migrants, ethnic minorities, and asylum seekers in Europe. Brussels: European Comission; 2009.
18.
Bollini P, Siem H. No real progress towards equity: health of migrants and ethnic minorities on the eve of the year 2000. Soc Sci Med. 1995;41(6):819–28.CrossRef
19.
20.
Neuman S. Are immigrants healthier than native residents?  Bonn, Germany: The Institute of Labor Economics (IZA); 2014.CrossRef
21.
McDonald JT, Kennedy S. Insights into the ‘healthy immigrant effect’: health status and health service use of immigrants to Canada. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59(8):1613–27.CrossRef
22.
Lu Y, Qin L. Healthy migrant and salmon bias hypotheses: a study of health and internal migration in China. Soc Sci Med. 2014;102:41–8.CrossRef
23.
Castro FG. Is acculturation really detrimental to health? Am J Public Health. 2007;97(7):1162.CrossRef
24.
Martín-López R, Jiménez-García R, Lopez-de-Andres A, et al. Inequalities in uptake of breast cancer screening in Spain: analysis of a cross-sectional national survey. Public Health. 2013;127(9):822–7.CrossRef
25.
Jatrana S, Pasupuleti SSR, Richardson K. Nativity, duration of residence and chronic health conditions in Australia: do trends converge towards the native-born population? Soc Sci Med. 2014;119:53–63.CrossRef
26.
27.
Chauvin P, Parizot I, Simonnot N. Report of the European Observatory – Médecins du Monde: Access to healthcare for undocumented migrants in 11 European countries. 2009.
28.
Biswas D, Kristiansen M, Krasnik A, et al. Access to healthcare and alternative health-seeking strategies among undocumented migrants in Denmark. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(1):560.CrossRef
29.
Lindert J, Schouler-Ocak M, Heinz A, et al. Mental health, health care utilisation of migrants in Europe. Eur Psychiatry. 2008;23:14–20.CrossRef
30.
Jiménez-García R, Hernández-Barrera V, Carrasco-Garrido P, et al. Influenza vaccination coverages among children, adults, health care workers and immigrants in Spain: related factors and trends, 2003–2006. J Infect. 2008;57(6):472–80.CrossRef
31.
Shahrabani S, Benzion U. The effects of socioeconomic factors on the decision to be vaccinated: the case of flu shot vaccination. Isr Med Assoc J. 2006;8(9):630.PubMed
32.
Centers for Disease Control Prevention. Racial/ethnic disparities in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination levels among persons aged> or = 65 years—United States, 1989-2001. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003;52(40):958.
33.
Poethko-Müller C, Ellert U, Kuhnert R, et al. Vaccination coverage against measles in German-born and foreign-born children and identification of unvaccinated subgroups in Germany. Vaccine. 2009;27(19):2563–9.CrossRef
34.
Rodríguez-Rieiro C, Hernández-Barrera V, Carrasco-Garrido P, et al. Vaccination against 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasonal influenza in Spain: Coverage among high risk subjects, HCWs, immigrants and time trends from the 2005/2006 campaign. Vaccine. 2011;29(35):6029–34.CrossRef
35.
Van der Wal M, Diepenmaat A, Pel J, et al. Vaccination rates in a multicultural population. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90(1):36–40.CrossRef
36.
Menvielle G, Richard J-B, Ringa V, et al. To what extent is women’s economic situation associated with cancer screening uptake when nationwide screening exists? A study of breast and cervical cancer screening in France in 2010. Cancer Causes Control. 2014;25(8):977–83.CrossRef
37.
Naoum P, Skroumpelos A, Athanasakis K, et al. Factors associated with the utilization of mammographic screening in Greece. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2018;27(1):13–9.CrossRef
38.
Ditzian LR, David-West G, Maza M, et al. Cervical cancer screening in low-and middle-income countries. Mt Sinai J Med. 2011;78(3):319–26.CrossRef
39.
Sánchez J. Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida. Front Public Health. 2014;2:108.CrossRef
40.
de Almeida JC. Portuguese national mental health plan (2007–2016) executive summary. Ment Health Fam Med. 2009;6(4):233.PubMedPubMedCentral
41.
42.
Lourenço A, Barros PP. Cuidados de Saúde Oral: Universalização [Oral Healthcare: Universalization]. Lisbon: Nova Healthcare Initiative – Research/Universidade Nova de Lisboa; 2016.
43.
Murphy J, Scully C. Oral healthcare implications of mass migration. Dent Update. 2015;42(10):965–71.CrossRef
44.
Ku L, Matani S. Left out: immigrants’ access to health care and insurance. Health Aff (Millwood). 2001;20(1):247–56.CrossRef
45.
Berk ML, Schur CL, Chavez LR, et al. Health care use among undocumented Latino immigrants. Health Aff (Millwood). 2000;19(4):51–64.CrossRef
46.
Ku L. Health insurance coverage and medical expenditures of immigrants and native-born citizens in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(7):1322–8.CrossRef
47.
Jang M, Lee E, Woo K. Income, language, and citizenship status: factors affecting the health care access and utilization of Chinese Americans. Health Soc Work. 1998;23(2):136–45.CrossRef
48.
Hayward RA, Bernard AM, Freeman HE, et al. Regular source of ambulatory care and access to health services. Am J Public Health. 1991;81(4):434–8.CrossRef
49.
Feinstein JS. The relationship between socioeconomic status and health: a review of the literature. Milbank Q. 1993;71:279–322.CrossRef
50.
Lambrew JM, Defriese GH, Carey TS, et al. The effects of having a regular doctor on access to primary care. Med Care. 1996;34(2):138–51.CrossRef
51.
Kirmayer LJ, Narasiah L, Munoz M, et al. Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care. CMAJ. 2011;183(12):E959–E67.CrossRef
52.
Wallace SP, Levy-Storms L, Ferguson LR. Access to paid in-home assistance among disabled elderly people: do Latinos differ from non-Latino whites? Am J Public Health. 1995;85(7):970–5.CrossRef
53.
Lai DW, Chau SB. Predictors of health service barriers for older Chinese immigrants in Canada. Health Soc Work. 2007;32(1):57–65.CrossRef
54.
Lindert J, von Ehrenstein OS, Priebe S, et al. Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees—a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soc Sci Med. 2009;69(2):246–57.CrossRef
55.
González-López JR. Rodríguez-Gázquez MdlÁ, Lomas-Campos MdlM. Self-medication in adult Latin American immigrants in Seville. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem. 2012;25(SPE2):75–81.CrossRef
56.
World Health Organization. How health systems can address health inequities linked to migration and ethnicity. Copenhagen: World Health Organization; 2010.
Metadata
Title
Healthcare Services Utilization Among Migrants in Portugal: Results From the National Health Survey 2014
Authors
A. Nabil Shaaban
Samantha Morais
Bárbara Peleteiro
Publication date
01-04-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0744-3

Other articles of this Issue 2/2019

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2/2019 Go to the issue

Original Paper

Stress and Health of Internally Displaced Female Yezidis in Northern Iraq

Brief Communication

Current Approaches to Cancer Genetic Counseling Services for Spanish-Speaking Patients

Original Paper

Intergenerational Mobility and Goal-Striving Stress Among Black Americans: The Roles of Ethnicity and Nativity Status

Original Paper

Emerging Lingo-Cultural Inequality in Infant Autopsy in Quebec, Canada

Original Paper

Smoking Among Chinese Livery Drivers

Original Paper

Limited English Proficiency and Health Service Use in Asian Americans