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County Differences in Mortality among Foreign-Born Compared to Native Swedes 1970-1999
Björn Albin1, Katarina Hjelm, Jan Ekberg
1School of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 351 95 Växjö, Sweden ; Centre of Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 351 95 Växjö, Sweden.
Nursing Research and Practice
|October 3, 2012
Summary
Mortality rates are higher for foreign-born individuals compared to native Swedes, particularly in rural counties. This study highlights the impact of county of residence on migrant health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Regional disparities in health outcomes are documented in Europe and the USA.
- Previous studies indicate higher mortality and varied healthcare utilization among foreign-born versus native-born populations.
- No prior research has examined mortality differences between these groups within specific Swedish counties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mortality patterns between foreign-born individuals and native Swedes across 24 Swedish counties.
- To investigate the influence of county of residence on mortality disparities.
- To analyze mortality trends from 1970 to 1999.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from Statistics Sweden and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
- Included 723,948 individuals (361,974 foreign-born and 361,974 matched native Swedish controls) aged 16+ in 1970.
- Employed statistical analysis to compare mortality rates and odds ratios (OR) by county of residence.
Main Results:
- County of residence was an independent predictor of higher mortality among foreign-born individuals in most counties (OR 1.01-1.29).
- Greater mortality differences were observed in counties with a more rural structure.
- Foreign-born individuals died at a younger mean age (1.0-4.3 years) than native controls.
Conclusions:
- Geographic location, specifically county of residence, significantly impacts mortality rates.
- Migrants residing in rural Swedish counties face higher mortality risks compared to native Swedes.
- Further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying causes of these observed mortality differences.
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