Mental health in Ecuadorian migrants from a population-based survey: the importance of social determinants and gender roles.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of and the risk factors for poor mental health in female and male Ecuadorian migrants in Spain compared to Spaniards.


METHODS
Population-based survey. Probabilistic sample was obtained from the council registries. Subjects were interviewed through home visits from September 2006 to January 2007. Possible psychiatric case (PPC) was measured as score of ≥5 on the General Health Questionnaire-28 and analyzed with logistic regression.


RESULTS
Of 1,122 subjects (50% Ecuadorians, and 50% women), PPC prevalence was higher in Ecuadorian (34%, 95% CI 29-40%) and Spanish women (24%, 95% CI 19-29%) compared to Ecuadorian (14%, 95% CI 10-18%) and Spanish men (12%, 95% CI 8-16%). Shared risk factors for PPC between Spanish and Ecuadorian women were: having children (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-6.9), work dissatisfaction (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.5), low salaries (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.9), no economic support (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.9-3.4), and no friends (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.2). There was an effect modification between the nationality and educational level, having a confidant, and atmosphere at work. Higher education was inversely associated with PPC in Spanish women, but having university studies doubled the odds of being a PPC in Ecuadorians. Shared risk factors for PPC in Ecuadorian and Spanish men were: bad atmosphere at work (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4), no economic support (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.5), no friends (OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.9-6.6), and low social support (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.9), with effect modification between nationality and partner's emotional support.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health in Spanish and Ecuadorian women living in Spain is poorer than men. Ecuadorian women are the most disadvantaged group in terms of prevalence of and risk factors for PPC.
Del Amo
Julia
J
National Center of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029, Madrid, Spain. jdamo@isciii.es
Jarrín
Inma
I
García-Fulgueiras
Ana
A
Ibáñez-Rojo
Vicente
V
Alvarez
Débora
D
Rodríguez-Arenas
Maria Angeles
MA
García-Pina
Rocío
R
Fernández-Liria
Alberto
A
García-Ortúzar
Visitación
V
Díaz
Domingo
D
Mazarrasa
Lucía
L
Zunzunegui
Maria Victoria
MV
Llácer
Alicia
A
D000328:Adult; D004484:Ecuador / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult