[Relation between global health and care consumption in Quebec immigrants]

This article examines the relationship between global health and care consumption in immigrants and native Quebecers. Care consumption is defined as the percentage of the population who consulted a health professional, while global health is represented by the ridit index. Mean values for ridit and care consumption do not differ significantly between immigrants and native Quebecers. The ridit increases significantly with age in native Quebecers and immigrants, indicating a progressive deterioration of global health for both groups. However, the relation between ridit values grouped for age and health professional consultation do not differ significantly between immigrants and native Quebecers. These results suggest a close link between global health and care consumption. The recently established immigrants represent an exception however. Those persons who arrived between 1980 and 1987 enjoy a better global health than native Quebecers, but consult health professionals in an identical manner.