International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 756-763, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
GR Weitoft, A Gullberg, A Hjern and M Rosen
BACKGROUND: It is difficult to carry out fair comparisons of the mortality
of different ethnic groups in a population in register-based studies
because sizeable numbers of immigrants who subsequently leave their new
homeland fail to register this fact with the national registration
authorities. In this article we present a method which attempts to address
these problems. METHODS: Age-standardized mortality rates for native Swedes
and immigrants in the age group 20-64 years were calculated for all
individuals who either were included in the Swedish Population Censuses for
1985 or 1990, or who moved to Sweden during the period November 1990-1994.
In order to define the population under scrutiny different sources of
income are used as indicators of residence in the country. RESULTS: When an
analysis is made of all nationally registered individuals, significantly
reduced death rates are found among immigrants outside the north-east of
Europe compared to those for Swedish-born people. Extremely low death rates
are found for those born in Turkey, Southern Europe, Latin America, Asia,
and Africa and for those who are younger and without any income. When the
income criterion is introduced, there is a change so that the earlier
significantly reduced relative death risks for immigrants born outside the
north-east of Europe for some subgroups are no longer significantly
lowered. CONCLUSION: This study has important implications for the
interpretation of every study of mortality among immigrants based on
official mortality statistics. Using information about income as an
indicator of residence in the country appears to be a method which can be
pursued further in order to achieve a more accurate understanding of
mortality among immigrant groups.
ARTICLES
Mortality statistics in immigrant research: method for adjusting underestimation of mortality
Centre for Epidemiology, National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, Sweden. gunilla@ringback@sos.se
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