August 2006 - One out of every three New York City residents was born abroad and about 50% of NYC workers are immigrants, making it one of the most diverse and international cities in the world. The immigrant population is growing continuously and in step with this trend, NYC's health is increasingly characterized by the health of the foreign-born. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) recently released "The Health of Immigrants in New York City," a comprehensive report on the health of foreign-born New Yorkers. The report found that immigrants arrive in the country healthier than the native-born Americans but they face more challenges - such as language and cultural barriers - in accessing health care. They also receive less preventive care and some aspects of their health may deteriorate the longer they remain in New York City.

There are many reasons for the better health of newly-arrived immigrants, including the fact that they are less likely to smoke, drink alcohol excessively, or be obese. As immigrants remain in the U.S. however, their health suffers. Foreign-born New Yorkers who have lived in the U.S. for four or more years report worse general heath than most new arrivals. Only 69% of foreign-born adults under 65 have a regular primary care provider, compared to 80% of U.S.-born adults under 65. Moreover, immigrant adults are less likely than U.S.-born adults to use preventive care services. Less than 50% of foreign-born adults over 50 have ever received colon cancer screenings or Pap tests compared to 53% of U.S.-born adults. Foreigners are also less likely than Americans to use preventive care services, such as having their blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.

Immigration status, along with environmental factors such as greater availability of unhealthy food and decreased physical activity, may worsen the health of immigrant New Yorkers. Language barriers are especially problematic when it comes to accessing healthcare within NYC. Spanish speakers in particular face the most obstacles in receiving adequate healthcare, with only 52% of Spanish-speaking immigrants having a primary care provider as compared to the 74% of English-speaking immigrants that have a primary care provider. Spanish-speaking immigrants are more likely than English-speaking immigrants to use an emergency room as their primary care facility and they are also twice as likely to report being unable to obtain medical care when needed.

To address the health needs of the immigrant population, the DOHMH has established District Public Health offices in several areas with high concentrations of immigrants. These areas include the East and Central Harlem, the South Bronx, and East Brooklyn. Moreover, the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) has a strong immigrant outreach program, led by an open letter to all immigrants (published in 11 languages) that clearly states the HHC's policy of keeping a patient's immigrant status confidential and informs them of the available health services. There are also many partnerships between the DOHMH, the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, and nonprofit organizations such as the New York Immigrant Coalition, that provide information, counseling, and direct services to help immigrants maintain or improve their health status.

To read the full report, click here.