Mortality by Cause of Death Among Immigrants and Natives in a South European Country: The Case of Greece, 2011

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to examine for the first time in Greece mortality by cause of death among immigrants. The analysis makes use of vital registration statistics for 2010-2012 and census data for 2011; standardised mortality ratios are estimated for four distinct groups: natives, migrants from EU-27 (excluding Greece), other Europeans (mainly Albanians) and those from all other countries (mainly Asia/Africa). All immigrants seem to experience favourable mortality from neoplasms but higher mortality from external causes in comparison to Greeks. The results regarding cardiovascular diseases are mixed. Persons originating in Asian/African regions exhibit higher mortality from infectious diseases and TB. The findings highlight the specificities of immigrant mortality which stem from pre-existing conditions in the country of origin as well as from the adverse socio-economic environment in the country of destination. As immigrants experience some excessive 'avoidable' mortality implementation of appropriate measures should be a social policy priority.

Estimating Mortality Levels and Patterns among Natives, Immigrants, and Selected Ethnic Groups in Greece: 2010–2012

“…Overall, the foreign‐origin population has a lower life expectancy than the natives, but some groups seem more disadvantaged than others. Combining the results of the present study with findings of previous work related to causes of death for broad immigrant groups, it seems that persons originating in Asian and African countries experience higher mortality than the natives from infectious diseases and, especially, tuberculosis; this also holds for immigrants from Eastern Europe (Verropoulou and Tsimbos ). Health problems caused by infectious diseases with long incubation or latent periods may present a serious hazard among the foreign as well as the native population of a country.…”

“…However, our findings are not surprising given the deprived conditions some of these groups experience and the well‐established negative association of socioeconomic status with mortality. The higher mortality immigrant men experience due to external causes (accidents and injuries) and homicide testifies to their harsh working conditions and adverse socioeconomic environment (Verropoulou and Tsimbos ). Finally, migrant groups from low mortality countries (Western Europe and the United States), as already mentioned, may be negatively selected on characteristics such as age and possibly health as well.…”

“…The cause‐of‐death patterns are very similar to those for the rest of Europe, with cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms being the leading causes. Patterns, however, differentiate between natives and immigrants as the latter experience higher mortality from external causes — possibly linked to a great extent to the adverse socioeconomic conditions they face and work‐related accidents — and from infectious diseases; on the other hand, they have lower mortality from neoplasms (Verropoulou and Tsimbos ).…”

Physical abuse in the era of financial crisis in Greece

“…This can be attributed to the fact that they usually belong to lower socioeconomic layers -which have been struck particularly hard by the crisis-and to reasons associated with the male nature (physical confrontation is more likely) or culture (women stay at home) (8,9). However, not all victims, especially victims of domestic violence, seek medical help (7,10). This may be reflected by the small reported percentage of women suffering physical abuse.…”

“…It is known that unemployment, job insecurity and the compromise of the individual or family income may have a negative impact on health (1)(2)(3)5). The most severely affected are middle and lower classes, mainly including immigrants and poor, due to unemployment and reduction of social benefits (6,7).…”