This study aims to identify any differences between Italians’ and immigrants’ access to health services that cannot be ascribed to the distinct characteristics of these groups. The study uses the 2005 edition of the Italian National Health Survey to estimate the correlation between being an immigrant and the probability of accessing various health services (e.g., general practitioners, specialist doctors, hospitals, emergency departments, tests for blood cholesterol). Fitted regression models control for various individual characteristics, including socio-economic conditions, demographics, need variables, and lifestyle habits, as well as for territorial characteristics. Immigrants, both first and second generation, are identified by crossing information on citizenship with information on birthplaces. The results show that foreigners and foreign-born people suffer from unequal access to health care services. They are more likely to contact emergency services and less likely to visit specialist doctors and use preventive care. Similar results appear for second-generation immigrants, who display a lower probability of visiting specialist doctors and higher hospitalization rates. Vast heterogeneity across areas of birth also is documented.
Immigrants’ access to health care services in Italy: New evidence from survey data
DEVILLANOVA, CARLO
2012
Abstract
This study aims to identify any differences between Italians’ and immigrants’ access to health services that cannot be ascribed to the distinct characteristics of these groups. The study uses the 2005 edition of the Italian National Health Survey to estimate the correlation between being an immigrant and the probability of accessing various health services (e.g., general practitioners, specialist doctors, hospitals, emergency departments, tests for blood cholesterol). Fitted regression models control for various individual characteristics, including socio-economic conditions, demographics, need variables, and lifestyle habits, as well as for territorial characteristics. Immigrants, both first and second generation, are identified by crossing information on citizenship with information on birthplaces. The results show that foreigners and foreign-born people suffer from unequal access to health care services. They are more likely to contact emergency services and less likely to visit specialist doctors and use preventive care. Similar results appear for second-generation immigrants, who display a lower probability of visiting specialist doctors and higher hospitalization rates. Vast heterogeneity across areas of birth also is documented.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
