Healthy Migrant Effect in a Mexico-Colorado Labor Stream

Background: Mexican immigrants who are new to the U.S. show remarkably high levels of health, a phenomenon known as the healthy migrant effect (HME). Researchers have hypothesized that the HME is the result of a selection process, through which those who are better off tend to move; or the result of the more healthful behaviors that are norm in the countries of origin of immigrants. There is still great need of research that includes the right comparison group, those who do not migrate and stay in their communities of origin. This study will test if the HME takes place in a bounded male-only migration stream from Mexico to Colorado, whether measuring health status or health behaviors. Purpose: To determine if Mexican men who migrate to Colorado are healthier than those men who do not migrate, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Mexico and Colorado to evaluate the health status and behaviors of adult males. The Mexican sample is comprised by 243 adult males who resided in five rural villages at the time the survey was conducted. We selected randomly five towns out of a previously generated list that included all the names of towns of men working in an agricultural program in Colorado. The sample in Colorado is comprised by 164 men who migrated from Mexico to participate in an agricultural temporary work program. The Colorado and Mexico versions of the questionnaire included several sections: demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics; migratory history; migration decision-making process, social networks; health status indicators, including self reported health status and relative health self-reported health status; depressive symptomatology; presence of chronic diseases; formal use of health care in previous six months; days of work lost due to illness, physical activity; smoking, drinking, diet indicators, measured height and weight to estimate BMI, measured waist circumference, and blood pressure measured with an electronic arm cuff. Results: Logistic regression models are used to determine if a positive health status predicts migration in this group of men. Individual health status indicators as well as a composite health status indicator will be used as independent variables to predict migration, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Conclusions: Findings are discussed in the context of existent literature about the healthy migrant effect, which rarely has included non-migrant populations living in immigrant's places of origin or the variety of health indicators included in this study.