Recent Research on Immigrant Health from Statistics Canada’s

Population Surveys

Jennifer Ali

Statistics Canada

How do immigrants fare in comparison with people born in

Canada on health and health-related indicators?

• Immigrants relatively small proportion of population (16% of population)

• Need large study for comparisons

• Statistics Canada: suitable large-scale data

Immigrant Research Using Statistics Canada Surveys

• National Population Health Survey (NPHS)– 17, 605 respondents age 12 and over (1994/95)– cross-sectional and longitudinal components

• Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)– over 131,000 respondents age 15 and over

(cycle 1.1)

Other Surveys

• Canada’s Alcohol and Other Drug Survey (CADS)

• National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)

• Health and Activity Limitations Survey (HALS)

• General Social Surveys (GSS)• Administrative data

Health Indicators Studied

• Physical health

• Mental health

• Health behaviors, determinants of health

• Health service utilization

Trends in Findings across Studies

• Healthy immigrant effect: In general, immigrants are either the same as Canadian-born or are healthier, have better health behaviors and use services less.

• Variation among immigrants: – Gradient with duration in Canada– Findings most applicable to Non-European

immigrants

Figure 1

Data Source: 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey

Claudio Perez. Health Status and Heath Behaviour among Immigrants. Supplement to Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003) 2002: 13: 89-100.

* Significantly different from the reference category (p < 0.05

Figure 2

Data Source: 2000/0 Canadian Community Health Survey

Jennifer Ali. Mental Health of Canada’s Immigrants. Supplement to Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003) 2002: 13: 101-111.

Figure 3

Data Source: 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey

Jennifer Ali. Mental Health of Canada’s Immigrants. Supplement to Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003) 2002: 13: 101-111.

What do these studies tell us about immigrant health?

• Cross-sectional patterns with representative samples: benchmarks established

• Variation among immigrants important for health

Limitations and Future Research

• Cohort effects likely– Processes of acculturation and change not

studied– Focused longitudinal studies needed

• Further examine subgroups among immigrants (e.g. refugees)

Limitations and Future Research

• Role of cultural differences in understanding and reporting health

• Non-response due to language barriers

• New Survey: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada – 5,800 immigrants, 3 interviews over 4 years