Health Practices Among Russian and Ukrainian Immigrants

Abstract

Since 1990, due to political and legislative changes, immigration from the former Soviet Union to the United States has increased significantly. Population reports from 1988 indicate that there were approximately 406,000 Soviet immigrants in the United States at that time. This number is expected to increase due to the Immigration Reform Act of 1990, which raised the Soviet refugee ceiling to 50,000 per year. Currently, very little is known about the health status and health practices of this population, although some published data indicate that life expectancy and infant mortality rates compare poorly with those of the general population in the United States. Although the former Soviet republics experienced universal health care coverage, there was little emphasis on promoting a healthy lifestyle. Heavy cigarette use, high alcohol intake, poor dietary intake, little attention to physical fitness, and crowded living conditions have been described. Environmental pollution and poor occupational safety are common and have contributed to the health problems of the population. As the influx of immigrants continues, the consequences of these health conditions will impose a burden on health care services in this country. As with any immigrant group, an understanding of the potential health conditions and cultural values can facilitate appropriate medical care. This research was conducted to explore these issues. Interviews and a physical assessment were conducted with 30 adults from the former Soviet Union. The major health problems identified included various dental conditions requiring treatment, obesity, and the absence of basic health screening measures such as cholesterol testing, high blood pressure screening, Pap smears, and mammograms. The authors also identified a need for translators and for education regarding preventative self-care, such as breast self-examinations.

Unterschiede zwischen Aussiedlern und der übrigen deutschen Bevölkerung bezüglich Gesundheit, Gesundheitsversorgung und Gesundheitsverhalten: eine vergleichende Analyse anhand des KORA-Surveys 2000

“…Das auffälligste Ergebnis dieser Studie bezüglich der Gesundheitsversorgung ist die geringe Teilnahme von Aussiedlern an Krebsvorsorgeuntersuchungen. Ähnliche Ergebnisse sowie mögliche Erklärungen, wie kulturelle Hintergründe, Sprachprobleme und Mangel an Information, wurden in einer anderen Studie aufgezeigt (Duncan & Simmons 1996). Generell gilt, je kür-zer die Aufenthaltsdauer in Deutschland, desto geringer ist die Teilnahme an Krebsvorsorgeuntersuchungen.…”

Food Label Use and Food Label Skills among Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union

“…These aspects include lifestyles such as heavy smoking, high alcohol intake, diets based mostly on bread and processed meats, as well as hesitation in seeking health care, which is possibly related to distrust that they developed with health care systems in the Soviet era. 22,[29][30][31][32] For example, in 2 different qualitative studies, Russian immigrants defined health as an absence of disease or pain and reported seeking medical help only when they were already sick and only after home remedies failed to help. 30,32 Even though there was an understanding that behavior affects health, older Russian immigrants were not able to give clear answers on how to exercise or eat healthfully.…”

The Burden of Culture? Health Outcomes Among Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in the United States

“…Research on FSU natives in Europe and Israel indicates they experience health disadvantages relative to natives of those countries [24][25][26]. FSU immigrants in the U.S. have received little attention in the health literature, but the few existing studies have found high rates of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes among FSU immigrants [27][28][29]. These health problems may be related to cultural practices, such as an attachment to traditional Slavic foods [30].…”