Background: In spite of the increasing numbers of migrants in Germany, only few epidemiological studies have been carried out to investigate the health status of ethnic minorities in Germany. Results from national and international studies on the health of immigrants are inconsistent showing either increased or decreased morbidity in relation to native inhabitants. A survey was undertaken to study the self-reported health status, help-seeking behaviour, and health care utilization among immigrants and Germans.
Methods: 565 adults (276 immigrants and 289 Germans, 97% parents) in Bielefeld, Germany, were interviewed while they accompanied children who attended the pre-school medical examinations. In the analysis descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used.
Results: The self-reported general health status of the study population was good for Germans and immigrants. Germans utilized health care facilities and preventive programmes (e. g. screening programmes) more frequently than immigrants. Furthermore, Germans reported higher levels of satisfaction with health care and a higher level of knowledge about several diseases as compared to immigrants. Logistic regression models indicate that neither migration itself (OR = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.4 - 1.1) nor socio-economic factors (OR for low vs. high social level = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.6 - 2.4) were significantly associated with physical diseases among the study population.
Conclusions: We found no indications that immigrants are less healthy compared to Germans. Further investigations are needed to clarify the differences in patterns of health care utilisation and participation in preventive programmes among Germans and ethnic minorities.