Impact of migration background on health of children and adolescents in Austria. Results of the Austrian Health Survey 2014.

OBJECTIVE

The present study examines the question as to whether the wellbeing of children and adolescents in Austria and the use of vaccination are influenced by migration background.

METHODS

The data was extracted from the Austrian Health Survey 2014 (ATHIS 2014). It contains health-related information of 5,277 children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 years. The analysis was based on logistic regression models.

RESULTS

To stem from a migration background had no influence on the assessment of health or the assessment of complaints. Regarding vaccination, the results showed that the children of study participants born in non-EU foreign countries had twice the chance of being vaccinated as the children of Austria-born parents. No difference existed between the children of Austria-born parents and the children of parents born in non-EU countries.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis suggests that children and adolescents with a migration background in Austria are not worse off in terms of their physical wellbeing and vaccination status than children without a migration background. Some thought should, however, be given to the fact that the notion of migration background refers to a heterogenic population. To analyse the risks and chances of children and adolescents from different migrant backgrounds, a more differentiated survey of their migrant background and social situation and a more differentiated survey of health parameters will be required.