A comparative description of the health status, the health determinants and health services use among the migrant population in Portugal. Data from the 4th national health interview survey (2004/2005)

Poster presentation: abstract publicado em: Eur J Public Health (2008) 18(suppl 1): 185 doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckn503 http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/suppl_1/130.full.pdf+html ; Background: The 4th National Health Interview Survey (NHIS4) a general multipurpose survey of a probabilistic multi-stage sample of family households promoted by the Ministry of Health, conducted (2005/2006) by the National Institute of Health in partnership with the National Statistics Institute and the General Directorate of Health. Objective: Compare immigrants, returned emigrants and Portuguese residents on health status, health determinants, health services use. Methods: Data analysis from NHIS4. Age-standardized and gender stratified prevalences. Results: Data of 41 193 persons in family households in Portugal among which 1694 born outside Portugal and 3894 returned Portuguese-born emigrants were studied. A ‘good or very good’ perceived health status and quality of life was more frequent among immigrants. Smoking was more frequent among immigrants (men 27.7%; women 16.4%). Daily drinking high alcohol content drinks during the previous week was more frequent among returned Portuguese male emigrants (6.6%), than among immigrant (5.4%) or Portuguese never migrant men (5.1%). The National Health Service was mentioned by more than 80% of persons in all three populations both as ‘provider of health care’ and ‘more frequently used provider of health care’. Not using health care was more frequent among immigrant men (2.7%). No medical consultation during the previous 3 months was more frequent among immigrants (men 53.8%; women 46%). Four or more medical consultations during the same period was less frequent among immigrants (men 3.9%; women 6.4%). On average a lower proportion of immigrants reported a waiting time of more than 14 days for the last medical appointment. A ‘good or very good’ quality for the last medical appointment was more frequent in immigrants (89.8%) than Portuguese never migrants = 81.2%; returned Portuguese ...