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Differences in Eye Health, Access to Eye Care Specialists and Use of Lenses among Immigrant and Native-Born Workers in Spain

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  • Mar Seguí-Crespo

    (Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
    Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain)

  • Natalia Cantó-Sancho

    (Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain)

  • Alison Reid

    (School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Perth, Australia)

  • José Miguel Martínez

    (Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
    Department of Statistics, Technical University of Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Area of Healthcare and Economic Benefit, MC Mutual, 08029 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Elena Ronda-Pérez

    (Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
    CIBERESP, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Latin American immigrants make up 49% of the total immigrant population in Spain, yet little is known about their eye health. The aim of this study is to determine if there are differences in self-perceived eye health, access to eye care specialists, and use of lenses between a sample of Latin American immigrant workers from Colombia and Ecuador, and native-born workers in Spain. We used data from the PELFI cohort (Project for Longitudinal Studies of Immigrant Families). The sample consisted of 179 immigrant workers born in Colombia or Ecuador, and 83 Spanish-born workers. The outcome variables were self-perceived eye health, access to eye specialists, and use of lenses. A descriptive analysis of the sample was carried out, and the prevalence of the three outcome variables in immigrants and natives was calculated and adjusted for explanatory variables. Random effects logistic regression models examined eye health outcomes by workers’ country of birth. Immigrants are less likely to report poor self-perceived eye health than native-born (ORc 0.46; CI 95%, 0.22–0.96). Furthermore, they have less access to specialists (ORc 2.61; CI 95%, 1.32–5.15) and a higher probability of needing lenses but not having them (ORc 14.14; CI 95%, 1.77–112.69). This latter variable remained statistically significant after adjusting for covariates (ORa 34.05; CI 95%, 1.59–729.04). Latin American immigrants may not value the use of lenses, despite eye care specialists indicating that they need them. Eye health education is required to recognize the importance of using lenses according to their visual needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Mar Seguí-Crespo & Natalia Cantó-Sancho & Alison Reid & José Miguel Martínez & Elena Ronda-Pérez, 2019. "Differences in Eye Health, Access to Eye Care Specialists and Use of Lenses among Immigrant and Native-Born Workers in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:7:p:1288-:d:221624
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Porthé, Victoria & Vargas, Ingrid & Sanz-Barbero, Belén & Plaza-Espuña, Isabel & Bosch, Lola & Vázquez, Maria Luisa, 2016. "Changes in access to health care for immigrants in Catalonia during the economic crisis: Opinions of health professionals and immigrant users," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(11), pages 1293-1303.
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    3. Dolores Jiménez-Rubio & Cristina Hernández-Quevedo, 2011. "Inequalities in the use of health services between immigrants and the native population in Spain: what is driving the differences?," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 12(1), pages 17-28, February.
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