5.2-O1Health care access, group-specific health risks and needs of underage migrants from Romania or Bulgaria in Mannheim, Germany: results from a study using school entry examination and early intervention program data
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Children with migrant background (MB) often show higher risks of morbidity. Inequality in access to health care is one of the manifold reasons. Knowledge on health care access and group-specific needs of Romanian/Bulgarian (ROBU) children in Germany, a rapidly and constantly increasing group mostly living in highly disadvantaged environments, is scarce but needed to address health inequalities. Thus, this project (ROBUKI) set out to explore utilization of preventive care and needs of underage migrants from ROBU in Mannheim, Germany (second highest percentage of ROBU families in Germany). Methods: In municipal data (school entry examinations (n = 7444), early interventions (n = 3542); 2013-2015) utilization rates of preventive care (midwife care, well-child visits, vaccinations according to the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO)), health risks and needs (BMI, parental stress, language support) and age-appropriate development were analysed. Children with ROBU MB (n = 179/146), with other MB (n = 1942/736) and without MB (n = 3173/1804) were compared using chi-square analyses and logistic regressions (adjusted for maternal SES, duration of stay). Results: Children with ROBU MB differed significantly from children with other MB regarding vaccinations (46% vs. 81%; OR(ROBU/other)=0.3; 95%CI=0.1-0.5), well-child visits (47% vs. 67%; OR(ROBU/other)=0.4; 95%CI=0.2-0.8), midwife care (51% vs. 75%; OR(ROBU/other)=0.4; 95%CI=0.2-0.9) and language support (32% vs. 11%; OR(ROBU/other)=7.7; 95%CI=1.3- 45.2) adjusted for maternal SES. While children with MB differed significantly from children without MB regarding BMI and age-appropriate development, ROBU MB did not increase that risk. Conclusions: Families with ROBU MB less frequently utilize preventive health services than families without MB/with other MB. In parallel to these analyses, the ROBUKI project uses qualitative methods and mixed methods to develop group-specific adaptions of the health services in a participatory approach. Main messages: Romanian/Bulgarian families less frequently utilise preventive health services than families with other MB. The reasons for this may be existential problems and high language barriers.
Authors: M Steinisch, P Schäfer, F De Bock
Institution: Stadt Mannheim
Language: English
Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2800317907