Background: Traditionally, migrants arriving in Canada are in good general health status, termed the “Healthy Immigrant Effect”. However, recent literature such as those by Subedi and Rosenberg, argue that there are statistically significant health deteriorations in new immigrants to Canada5. Older adults, aged 65 and older, make up the majority of the Canadian population. Some senior immigrants face inherent barriers to equitable healthcare difficulties, such as with language and education7. The Wellesley Research Institute study on older adult immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) found that only 27% of recent immigrants reported general health as very good, of the non-native English speakers only 30% perceived their health as very good and 33% did not feel a sense of belonging in their community 6. These social determinants of health were significantly worse than the non-immigrants populations in the GTA. Ferdous and colleagues research identified barriers to better health outcomes in immigrant patients undergoing cervical cancer screening in Canada. The study found that it was due to a lack of education, low income, lack of knowledge, lack of effective communication, and embarrassment of opening up about certain medical issues3. Access to health services and health conditions of some migrant populations differ from patterns amongst Canadian-born patients; these disparities have implications for preventive care and provision of health services4.

Objective: We will be identifying and examining factors that lead to health inequalities amongst new senior immigrants, 65 years of age and older, in Canada relative to more established senior Canadians that have lived in Canada for more than 5 years.

Methodology: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity 2. We will be quantitatively assessing how health inequalities affect senior immigrants. This study will be done by a survey administered virtually; which will look for factors such as income, cultural beliefs, lack of transportation, language, lack of health literacy, the effects of COVID-19 and how these factors affect a patient's health status. Moreover, we will be examining how these factors lead to chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity as well as lower levels of cancer screening and increased mental health issues. This survey will take place over the next month to show if there is a true health inequality amongst new senior immigrants.

Conclusion: Correlations drawn from the pilot study can help identify health inequalities amongst the senior immigrant population and draw attention to the increased prevalence of various chronic conditions, lack of screening, and mental health issues. Similarly to the Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting (HIR) Initiative, this study is to show the health inequalities amongst this population to aid with health equity. The engagement and promotion of health awareness through this study can aid in the spread of information about the Canadian healthcare system and educate seniors about screening, health awareness, and mental health issues.

References:

1. Banerjee, A. T., and B. R. Shah. “Differences in Prevalence of Diabetes among Immigrants to Canada from South Asian Countries.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 3 May 2018, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dme.13647.
2. “Constitution.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/about/who-we-are/constitution.
3. Ferdous, Mahzabin, et al. “Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Faced by Immigrant Women in Canada: a Systematic Scoping Review.” BMC Women's Health, BioMed Central, 11 Oct. 2018, link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-018-0654-5.
4. Gushulak, Brian D, et al. “Migration and Health in Canada: Health in the Global Village.” CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De L'Association Medicale Canadienne, Canadian Medical Association, 6 Sept. 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3168671/.
5. Subedi, R. P., & Rosenberg, M. W. (2014, June 13). Determinants of the variations in self-reported health status among recent and more established immigrants in Canada. Social Science & Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953614003803.
6. Um, S.-gee, & Lightman, N. (2017, May). Seniors’ Health in the GTA: How Immigration, Language, and Racialization Impact Seniors’ Health. http://www.wellesleyinstitue.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Seniors-Health-in-the-GTA-Final.pdf
7. Wang, Lu, et al. “Older Immigrants' Access to Primary Health Care in Canada: A Scoping Review.” Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, Cambridge University Press, 13 May 2019, muse.jhu.edu/article/723858.