S Chiu1, D A Redelmeier, G Tolomiczenko, A Kiss, S W Hwang. 1. Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examined the association between immigrant status and current health in a representative sample of 1189 homeless people in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: Multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between immigrant status and current health status (assessed using the SF-12) among homeless recent immigrants (< or = 10 years since immigration), non-recent immigrants (>10 years since immigration) and Canadian-born individuals recruited at shelters and meal programmes (response rate 73%). RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic characteristics and lifetime duration of homelessness, recent immigrants were significantly less likely to have chronic conditions (RR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9), mental health problems (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7), alcohol problems (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.5) and drug problems (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.4) than non-recent immigrants and Canadian-born individuals. Recent immigrants were also more likely to have better mental health status (+3.4 points, SE +/-1.6) and physical health status (+2.2 points, SE +/-1.3) on scales with a mean of 50 and a SD of 10 in the general population. CONCLUSION: Homeless recent immigrants are a distinct group who are generally healthier and may have very different service needs from other homeless people.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the association between immigrant status and current health in a representative sample of 1189 homeless people in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: Multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between immigrant status and current health status (assessed using the SF-12) among homeless recent immigrants (< or = 10 years since immigration), non-recent immigrants (>10 years since immigration) and Canadian-born individuals recruited at shelters and meal programmes (response rate 73%). RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic characteristics and lifetime duration of homelessness, recent immigrants were significantly less likely to have chronic conditions (RR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9), mental health problems (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7), alcohol problems (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.5) and drug problems (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.4) than non-recent immigrants and Canadian-born individuals. Recent immigrants were also more likely to have better mental health status (+3.4 points, SE +/-1.6) and physical health status (+2.2 points, SE +/-1.3) on scales with a mean of 50 and a SD of 10 in the general population. CONCLUSION: Homeless recent immigrants are a distinct group who are generally healthier and may have very different service needs from other homeless people.
Authors: Joshua Breslau; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola; Guilherme Borges; Kenneth S Kendler; Maxwell Su; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Catharine Chambers; Shirley Chiu; Allison N Scott; George Tolomiczenko; Donald A Redelmeier; Wendy Levinson; Stephen W Hwang Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2013-02-20
Authors: Stephen W Hwang; Catharine Chambers; Shirley Chiu; Marko Katic; Alex Kiss; Donald A Redelmeier; Wendy Levinson Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-10-22 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Catharine Chambers; Shirley Chiu; Marko Katic; Alex Kiss; Donald A Redelmeier; Wendy Levinson; Stephen W Hwang Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-10-22 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Catharine Chambers; Marko Katic; Shirley Chiu; Donald A Redelmeier; Wendy Levinson; Alex Kiss; Stephen W Hwang Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-10-22 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Fran Calvo; Oriol Turró-Garriga; Carles Fàbregas; Rebeca Alfranca; Anna Calvet; Mercè Salvans; Cristina Giralt; Sandra Castillejos; Mercè Rived-Ocaña; Paula Calvo; Paz Castillo; Josep Garre-Olmo; Xavier Carbonell Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Victoria D Ojeda; Angela M Robertson; Sarah P Hiller; Remedios Lozada; Wayne Cornelius; Lawrence A Palinkas; Carlos Magis-Rodriguez; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 3.671