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Health status, health behaviour and healthcare use among migrants in the UK: Evidence from mothers in the Millennium Cohort Study

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  • Jayaweera, Hiranthi
  • Quigley, Maria A.

Abstract

The health of migrants in the UK and their access to healthcare is of considerable policy interest. There is evidence of ethnic inequalities in health and access to and use of healthcare but insufficient consideration of the importance of birth abroad and length of residence in the UK. This study examines indicators of health status, behaviour and healthcare use among mothers of infants in the Millennium Cohort Study, according to whether born in the UK or abroad, individual ethnic grouping, and length of residence. Our findings show there are both positive and negative health indicators associated with ethnicity, birth abroad, and length of residence and presenting results on a single factor in isolation could lead to a misinterpretation of associations. For mothers ethnicity has an important relationship with most health indicators independent of country of birth, length of residence and socio-demographic circumstances. Once adjusted for ethnicity and socio-demographic variables, association with birth abroad disappears for most health outcomes suggesting that there may not be an independent migrant penalty in health. There is a linear trend in decreasing health status with increasing length of residence but no independent association between length of residence and healthcare use. This suggests that while there are continuing barriers to good health for migrants in the receiving society as shown in other studies, factors important for one health outcome may not apply to another. Our findings challenge linear acculturation models for migrants' health in showing that a linear trend in improving socio-economic circumstances for mothers in some ethnic groups is not always associated with better health outcomes or changes in health behaviour. Our results point to a need for a comprehensive collection of information and analysis for all categories of migrants for understanding patterns of and factors underlying health and use of healthcare.

Suggested Citation

  • Jayaweera, Hiranthi & Quigley, Maria A., 2010. "Health status, health behaviour and healthcare use among migrants in the UK: Evidence from mothers in the Millennium Cohort Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(5), pages 1002-1010, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:71:y:2010:i:5:p:1002-1010
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    5. Chavez, Leo R., 2012. "Undocumented immigrants and their use of medical services in Orange County, California," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 887-893.
    6. Mine Kühn & Carlos Díaz-Venegas & Domantas Jasilionis & Anna Oksuzyan, 2021. "Gender differences in health in Havana versus in Mexico City and in the US Hispanic population," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 217-226, June.
    7. Sónia Dias & Ana Gama & Maria O. Martins, 2013. "Health status and preventative behaviors of immigrants by gender and origin: A Portuguese cross‐sectional study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 309-317, September.
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    9. Anna Oksuzyan & Eleonora Mussino & Sven Drefahl, 2019. "Sex differences in mortality in migrants and the Swedish-born population: Is there a double survival advantage for immigrant women?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(3), pages 377-386, April.
    10. Ade Kearns & Elise Whitley & Matt Egan & Catherine Tabbner & Carol Tannahill, 2017. "Healthy Migrants in an Unhealthy City? The Effects of Time on the Health of Migrants Living in Deprived Areas of Glasgow," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 675-698, August.
    11. Richard Dorsett & Cinzia Rienzo & Martin Weale, 2015. "Intergenerational and Inter-Ethnic Well-Being: An Analysis for the UK," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 451, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    12. M Sow & C Schoenborn & M De Spiegelaere & J Racape, 2019. "Influence of time since naturalisation on socioeconomic status and low birth weight among immigrants in Belgium. A population-based study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Nellums, Laura B. & Powis, Jaynaide & Jones, Lucy & Miller, Anna & Rustage, Kieran & Russell, Neal & Friedland, Jon S. & Hargreaves, Sally, 2021. "“It's a life you're playing with”: A qualitative study on experiences of NHS maternity services among undocumented migrant women in England," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).

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