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Differences in Exposure to Occupational Health Risks in Spanish and Foreign-Born Workers in Spain (Itsal Project)

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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Migrant workers usually show higher rates of work-related health problems than natives. However, little information is available about their exposure to occupational risks. We describe self-reported working exposure in Spanish and foreign-born workers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted as part of the ITSAL Project. Data on sociodemographic and self-reported occupational exposure in 1,841 foreign-born and 509 Spanish workers were collected through face-to-face interviews. Prevalence and adjusted odds ratios-aOR- (by age, education, type of contract) were calculated. Foreign-born men in non-services sectors and those in manual occupations perceived exposure to occupational risks with lower prevalence than Spanish workers. Foreign-born women reported higher prevalence of exposure than Spanish female workers. By occupation, foreign-born female workers were more likely than Spanish workers to report working many hours/day (aOR2.68; 95 % CI 1.06–6.78) and exposure to extreme temperatures (aOR2.19; 95 % CI 1.10–4.38). Some groups of migrant workers may need increased protection regarding some occupational exposures.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the following sources: Healthcare Research Fund of the Spanish Ministry of Health (references PI050497, PI052202, PI052334, PI061701, and PI0790470).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Occupational Health, Barcelona, Spain

    Elena Ronda, Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez, Ana M. García & Fernando G. Benavides

  2. CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health, Madrid, Spain

    Elena Ronda, Ana M. García & Fernando G. Benavides

  3. Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain

    Elena Ronda & Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez

  4. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

    Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez

  5. Department of Environmental Biology and Public Health, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain

    Carlos Ruiz-Frutos

  6. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Ana M. García

  7. Trade Union Institute for Work, Environment and Health (ISTAS), Valencia, Madrid, Spain

    Ana M. García & Maria José López-Jacob

  8. Public Health Department, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain

    Elena Ronda

Authors
  1. Elena Ronda
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  2. Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez
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  3. Ana M. García
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  4. Maria José López-Jacob
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  5. Carlos Ruiz-Frutos
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  6. Fernando G. Benavides
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Correspondence to Elena Ronda.

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Ronda, E., Agudelo-Suárez, A.A., García, A.M. et al. Differences in Exposure to Occupational Health Risks in Spanish and Foreign-Born Workers in Spain (Itsal Project). J Immigrant Minority Health 15, 164–171 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9664-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9664-9

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