195835 Nativity and health in the Russian Federation: What explains the healthy migrant effect?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Cynthia Jane Buckley, PhD , Department of Sociology, University fo Texas, Austin, Austin, TX
  
In recent decades, the Russian Federation has experienced marked declines in health and increasing in-migration. Second only to the United States in terms of the number of foreign born residents, anti-migrant sentiments in Russia are increasing, with media portrayals of migrants as disease carriers and exploiters of social services such as health care common. Examinations of health differentials in destination states in North America point to a healthy migrant effect, in which migrants report better health behaviors than the native born and better health outcomes when wealth effects are controlled. In Russia, do migrants report better health and less social service reliance than native born? Using the 2004 Russian Gender and Generations Survey (10,125 native born and 1, 113 foreign born), I examine the relationship between country of origin and self assessed health, chronic health conditions, physical limitations and social service use. I find significant differences, with recent migrants from Slavic countries and Kazakhstan displaying health disadvantages relative to the native born, while non-CIS and Central Asian migrants display significant health advantages. In multivariate models controlling for socio-demographic, cultural, and resource indicators, the effect of migration declines, while sex (Male) and age (Younger) emerge as positive health determinants. Non-Russian native language, for both migrants and the native born, is significantly associated with better health outcomes, and lower health service utilization across the models. The conclusion examines the importance of migrant demographic composition and culturally linked health factors (smoking, drinking, weight) in understanding the positive health effect of migration into Russia.

Learning Objectives:
Document the differentials in reported global and chronic health assessments of the native and foreign born in the Russian Federation. Evaluate the importance of country of origin, ethnicity, language use, and duration of residence in determining migrant health advantages.

Keywords: Migrant Health, Ethnic Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Education 1987 M.A. Russian and East European Studies, University of Michigan 1988 M.A. Sociology, University of Michigan 1991 Ph.D. Sociology, University of Michigan. LANGUAGES: Russian (4+), Romanian (3)Kazakh (1) Recent Activities on this theme 2009 Selected as Senior Scholar, International Research Exchange/U.S. State Department program, “The First Generation: Youth in Eastern Europe and Eurasia”. 2007 International Scholar-Advisor, Open Society Institute, (serving Yerevan State University Armenia) 2006 Appointed as an International Mentor by the Open Society Institute, Soros Foundation Scholar Development Program(Supervising 2 awardees from Mongolia) 2005 Certificate of Appreciation, Ministry of Health, Azerbaijan 2004-2005 Cheif Scientific Consultant, UNESCO/UNAIDS, "The Socio-cultural context of HIV/AIDS in the southern Caucasus" 2004- Selected as co-director, U.S. State Dept./Woodrow Wilson Center Working group on Migration in Eurasia 2004- Appointed to the International Board of Directors, Caucasus Research Resources Centers, Eurasia Foundation Selected publications on this theme Angel, Jacqueline, Cynthia Buckley and Arthur Sakamoto. 2001 Duration or Disadvantage? Explaining Nativity Differentials in Health Profiles” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 56B:5. Pp S275-S283.. Buckley, C. J. and B. Ruble, (Editors), with Erin Hofmann. 2008 “Population Movement and Belonging in Eurasia”, Johns Hopkins University Press. Doliashvili, Khatuna and Cynthia Buckley 2008 “Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Post-Socialist Georgia: Does Migration Matter?” International Family Planning Perspectives. 34 (1): 21-19 Buckley, Cynthia 2009 “While the Men are Away: HIV and Labor Migration in the southern Caucasus,” in The Fourth Wave: HIV/AIDS and the Assault on Women. J. Klot and V.K. Kim Editors. UNESCO. Forthcoming. Barrett, Jennifer and Cynthia Buckley, 2009 “Gender and erceived Control in the Russian Federation,” forthcoming, Europe-Asia Studies Prior Program Presentations 08/08 "Migration and Security Issues: The hidden side of the Russian-Georgian conflict" Briefing at the U.S. Department of State. 08/08 “Framing the Other: HIV/TB and Migrants in the Commonwealth of Independent States, poster presentation at the 17th International AIDS Conference, Mexico City. 07/08 “Factors in Ethical Review: Institutional Review Board Procedures,” presentation at the Institute of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow. 06/08 “Gendering the Transition: Approaches to Gender in Eurasian Studies,” presentation at the University of Illinois Summer Research Laboratory Workshop on Gender and Democratization, Champaign Urbana. 06/08 “Migration, Remittances, and Social Development in Tajikistan,” paper presented at the National Intelligence Council conference, “Tajikistan and Stability”, Washington D.C. 06/08 “Framing the Other: Migration and Disease in Eurasia,” paper presented at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars conference, “Transnational Migration to New Regional Centers: Policy Challenges, Practice, and the Migrant Experience,” Washington D.C. 04/08“Mythology and Measurement: HIV/AIDS in the southern Caucasus,” paper presented at the PAA Annual Meetings, New Orleans.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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