title: Disparities in lifestyle habits and health related factors of Montreal immigrants: is immigration an important exposure variable in public health?
abstract: Study disparities in lifestyle habits and health characteristics of Canadian born population and immigrants with different duration of residence. Data are extracted from 2009 to 2010 public use micro-data files of Canadian Community Health Survey representing about 1.5 million people. Sixty-one percent of the study sample was born in Canada; 49 % males and 59 % below age 50. Amongst lifestyle habits, recent immigrants were less likely to be regular smokers, RR (95 % CI) 0.56 (0.36-0.88) and frequent consumers of alcohol 0.49 (0.27-0.89), but more likely to consume less fruits and vegetables 1.26 (1.04-1.53) than those born in Canada. Amongst health related factors, recent immigrants were less likely to be overweight 0.79 (0.62-0.99) and suffer from chronic diseases 0.59 (0.44-0.80), but more likely to have limited access to family medicine 1.24 (1.04-1.47) than Canada-born population. Immigration status is an important population characteristic which influenced distribution of health indicators. Prevention and promotion strategies should consider immigration status as an exposure variable in the development and implementation of public health programs.
authors.affiliation: Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, Direction de santé publique, 1301 Rue Sherbrooke Est, Montreal, QC, H2L 1M3, Canada, gmeshefe@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Garbis A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Meshefedjian
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leaune
authors.forename: Marie-Ève
authors.initials: MÈ
authors.lastname: Simoneau
authors.forename: Mylène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drouin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult