Health risks among long-term immigrants in Norway with poor Norwegian language proficiency

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Immigrant health disparities are linked to duration of residence, host language proficiency, and education.
• The complex interactions between these factors on immigrant health remain under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the health status of immigrants in Norway based on combinations of residence duration, Norwegian language proficiency, and education levels.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional Living Conditions Surveys conducted in 2015/2016 by Statistics Norway.
• Inclusion of the general adult population (N=5703) and immigrants with >= 2 years of residence (N=3993).
• Logistic regressions used to assess health outcomes (self-reported health, chronic diseases, mental health, pain) against demographic and integration factors.

Main Results:

• Immigrants reported poorer health outcomes compared to the general population, varying by residence duration, language proficiency, and education.
• Higher odds of negative health conditions (except hypertension) were observed in immigrants, irrespective of their integration level.
• The highest risk for adverse health was found among immigrants with long duration of residence and poor Norwegian language proficiency.

Conclusions:

• Immigrant health outcomes are significantly influenced by the interplay of residence duration and language acquisition.
• Specific focus is needed on the health of long-term immigrants with limited Norwegian language skills.
• Targeted public health strategies are essential for vulnerable immigrant subgroups in Norway.