8th European Public Health Conference: Poster Displays
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Assessment of irregular migrants’ quality of life in Rome, Italy, in 2014 Valeria D’Egidio V D’Egidio1, D Mipatrini1, P Massetti1, V Vullo1, G La Torre1 Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Contact:
[email protected]
Background Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) includes physical, emotional and social health dimensions. Studies conducted worldwide show lower levels of HRQoL in migrant compared to the native populations. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the level of HRQoL and its determinants among migrants in irregular situations in Italy. Methods A cross-sectional study took place in 2014 among at the teaching hospital Umberto I of Rome. The questionnaire was concerning: SF-12 tool for assessing the HRQoL including the Physical (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS); socio-demographic information; medical conditions. The category Poverty Related Diseases (PRDs) has been defined including some infectious, mental and pathological conditions due to unhealthy lifestyles. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of demographic and pathological variables on the HRQoL. Results The mean PCS among the 200 participants was 46.5 and the mean MCS was 37,9 with MCS more than 10 percent points above the Italian natives’ MCS average. The multivariate analysis reveals the negative impact of age (P < 0.01), respiratory diseases (P: 0.03) and PRDs (P < 0.01) on PCS. MCS is decreased by poverty related (P < 0.01) and neuropsychiatric (P: < 0.01) diseases. Although multivariate analyses reveal gender being an effect modifier the negative association between PRDs and MCS and PCS is confirmed in both genders. Conclusion PRDsare associated with lower levels of HRQoL in migrant population suggesting a great impact of socio-economic status on the HRQoL. Public health strategies counteracting PRDs are the key point to improve migrants’ HRQoL through the implementation of: prevention programs for infectious diseases acting on immunization levels and risk behaviors; active surveillance of infectious disease guarantying high levels of accessibility to health service; promotion of healthy lifestyles with attention to addictions prevention; socio-sanitary integration. Key messages The level of HRQoL of irregular migrants are lower than native Italians average and PRDs highly affect the HRQoL of migrants in irregular situation in Italy Public Health interventions addressed to reduce the prevalence of PRDs and socio-sanitary integration may significantly improve irregular migrants HRQoL
