Healthy migrant effect within Croatia

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Title (croatian): Učinak migracije unutar Hrvatske na zdravstveno stanje migranata
• Author: Ivana Kolčić
• Author: Ozren Polašek
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care

Abstract (english)

The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic determinants and health status of within-country migrants in Croatia. Data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey from 2003 (N = 9,070) were used in the analysis. Migrants due to 1991-1995 war were excluded from the analysis and only those who indicated that the reason for their migration within Croatia was related to employment or other reasons were included. Prevalence of hypertension and increased body weight was calculated for each of the three migration-related groups (employment-related migrants, other reasons migrants and non-migrants). Migrants were on general younger than non-migrants (more than three quarters of migrant were under 50 years). Employment-related migrants had the lowest prevalence of measured hypertension, while other reasons migrants had the lowest prevalence of increased body weight. Non-migrants had the worse indices in almost every trait and age group that was analysed. The results support the healthy migrant hypothesis, even in case of migrants who migrated within Croatia. However, the results of this study show that health status of migrants may depend on the reasons for their migration, suggesting that future migration studies should record and take this into account.

Abstract (croatian)

Cilj ove studije bio je istražiti demografske odrednice i zdravstveno stanje osoba koje su migrirale unutar Hrvatske. Podaci su dobiveni iz Hrvatske zdravstvene ankete iz 2003. godine (HZA), u koju je bilo uključeno ukupno 9.070 ispitanika. Ispitanici koji su prijavili migraciju vezanu uz rat koji je trajao od 1991.–1995. godine bili su isključeni iz studije, dok su oni koji su prijavili migraciju zbog zaposlenja ili zbog drugih razloga bili uključeni u studiju. Istražena je pojavnost povećanog krvnog tlaka i povećane tjelesne težine kod sve tri skupine (migranti zbog zaposlenja, zbog drugih razloga te ispitanici koji nisu prijavili migraciju). Migranti su bili mlađi (više od tri četvrtine migranata bilo je mlađe od 50 godina). Migranti zbog zaposlenja imali su najmanju pojavnost povećanog krvnog tlaka, a migranti zbog drugih razloga imali su najmanju pojavnost povećane tjelesne težine. Ispitanici koji nisu migrirali imali su najlošije pokazatelje u gotovo svakoj dobnoj skupini i za svako svojstvo koje je bilo istraživano. Rezultati potvrđuju pozitivnu povezanost migracije i zdravstvenog stanja, potvrđujući hipotezu zdravih migranata. Međutim, rezultati također ukazuju na to da bi se u budućim migracijskim studijama trebali bilježiti i analizirati i razlozi migracije, koji mogu utjecati na zdravstveno stanje migranata.

• Keywords (english): Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Croatia/epidemiology; Employment; Female; Health Status; Health Surveys; Healthy Worker Effect; Humans; Hypertension/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity/epidemiology; Overweight/epidemiology; Transients and Migrants/statistics & numerical data
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Collegium Antropologicum
• Numbering: vol. 33, no. S. 1, pp. 141-145
• p-ISSN: 0350-6134
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:974611
• Publication: 2009-04
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/39741
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 11:17:36