Health Profile of Spanish-born and Foreign-born Workers in Spain

Background: Over the past fifteen years, Spain has become a prominent recipient of international migration. Considering the sociodemographic and economic changes underway in Spain, it is important to compare the health profile between a sample of Spanish-born and foreign-born workers in the country.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted (2008-2009) in four Spanish cities (Barcelona, Madrid, Huelva and Valencia), amongst 2,350 Spanish-born and foreign-born workers from Colombia, Ecuador, Morocco y Romania, between the ages of 20 and 40 years. The relationship between origin country (Spanish-born/foreign-born) and 18 health outcomes was analyzed (Crude and adjusted Odds ratios and confidence intervals at 95%). Logistic regression was employed adjusting for age and occupational categories.

Results: In the cases of men and women and in all of the health problems considered, the frequencies were higher in foreign-born workers. The analysis showed some differences in the magnitude of the associations. Immigrant men were more likely to report intoxications (aOR 3.23; 95%CI 1.10-9.49), varicose veins, tired legs and/or feet (aOR 2.29; 95%CI 1.59-3.30) and headache (aOR 1.90; 95%CI 1.33-2.70) and Immigrant women were more likely to report cuts (OR 2.07; 95%CI 1.38-3.11), burns (aOR 1.77; 95%CI 1.11-2.82), anxiety (aOR 1.72 95%CI 1.11-2.68), insomnia (OR 1.73; 95%CI 1.06-2.82) and stomachache (aOR 1.59; 95%CI 1.05-2.41) than their Spanish-born counterparts.

Conclusion: The immigrant working population in Spain is more likely to report health problems with some differences y sex and by type of health problem. These differences should be taken into account in preventive programs at workplace levels.