Kontakt 2014, 16(1):e1-e8 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2014.01.003

Determinants of immigrant's mental healthNursing - Review article

Věra Olišarová^*, Valérie Tóthová, Iva Brabcová

Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence

Research studies have shown that the health condition of immigrants is not influenced only by gender differences; significant determinants also include ethnicity, consistency of cultural heritage and social class. In relation to their status, immigrants belong to a vulnerable group with a higher incidence of a number of illnesses [1, 2]. The submitted article is focused on mapping the influence of four basic factors - ethnicity, degree of acculturation, immigration status and the socioprofessional position on the immigrants' health. The influence was described with the help of a secondary analysis of relevant sources using electronic databases such as Scopus, EBSCO, etc. To map the ascertained factors, the Conceptual model of basic determinants influencing the immigrants' health was created, considering health a multidimensional result subject to external and internal determinants with emphasis on key aspects. Those aspects were further analysed and confronted with research projects and conclusions implemented in the Czech Republic and in other countries of the world. Although the mutual influence of the determinants was proved by studies, the European region still sees a priority rather in the social and economic self-sufficiency of the individual. The immigrants' health has not yet been sufficiently mapped, as is evidenced by the survey of research activities focused on this issue in the Czech Republic.

Keywords: immigrants; health; healthy immigrant effect; acculturation; socio-economic position

Received: September 2, 2013; Accepted: November 5, 2013; Published: March 21, 2014  Show citation