Immigrant health risks in Italy include: extreme poverty increasing risks of malnutrition and poor working conditions; lack of psychological support increasing mental health issues; and legal and bureaucratic barriers limiting access to healthcare services. Data shows immigrants have higher rates of infectious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and face barriers to healthcare access during pregnancy. Improving health services for immigrants and reducing stigma could help address these health issues and risks.

1. Francesca Romana
Armini
MGD 190

2. AIDS, leprosy, syphilis tuberculosis, nits…
Italian newspapers usually tax immigrants
to be bacteriological bombs who
undermine Italian population’s health.
Let’s take a look at the Italian situation and
immigrants conditions…

3. Risks for immigrants’ health
 Risks caused by extreme poverty:
- Lack of adequate nutrition
- Lack of appropriate working conditions and regulation
 Psychological disorders:
- Lack of appropriate psychological support
- Separation from original country, traditions, culture
 Difficult access to health care services and
facilities:-
- Legal and bureaucratic obstacles

4. Data on immigrants’ access to healthcare

5. Hospitalization rates
Ricoveri ordinari - uomini
400
Men hospitalizations
350
300
R
Tassi per 1.000
250
a
t 200
e 150
s 100
50
0
18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65 +
Classi d'età (anni)
Age
Pfpm uomini Residenti uomini

6. Hospitalization rates
Day-hospital - uomini
Day hospital - Men
150
125
Tassi per 1.000
100
75
50
25
0
18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65 +
Classi d'età (anni)
Age
Pfpm uomini Residenti uomini

7. Hospitalization rates
Ricoveri ordinari - donne
Women hospitalization
350
300
Tassi per 1.000
250
200
150
100
50
0
18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65 +
Classi d'età (anni)
Age
Pfpm donne Residenti donne

8. Hospitalization rates
Day-hospital - donne
Day hospital women
150
125
Tassi per 1.000
100
75
50
25
0
18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65 +
Classi d'età (anni)
Age
Pfpm donne Residenti donne
Fonte: Elaborazioni Istat su dati del Ministero della Salute

9. Immigrants
and
Infectious diseases
In
Italy

10. 250 AIDS cases among immigrants (>18 years old)
200
- In Italy, 4000 AIDS cases
Numero di casi
150
among immigrants 100
50
between 1992 and 2006 0
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Casi maschi Anni Casi femmine
70 AIDS incidence depending on gender
Tassi di incidenza (x 100.000) 60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Tassi maschi Anni Tassi femmine

11. HIV incidence on immigrants
(difference between Italians and immigrants)

12. - In Italy, 32% of 31.000 TB cases in Italy
tubercolosis cases refer
to immigrants Year Immigrants Total Immigrants %
1999 961 4.429 21,7
2000 1.201 4.759 25,2
2001 1.391 4.505 30,9
2002 1.293 4.212 30,7
2003 1.459 4.518 32,3
2004 1.664 4.220 39,4
2005 1.809 4.137 43,7

13. TB cases among immigrants
130
110
tasso di incidenza x 100.000
90
70
50
30
10
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
stranieri regolari stranieri regolari+stima irregolari

15. Pregnancies and immigrants

16. Indicators of access to health care during pregnancies
1996 – ISS surveys 2005 – Istat surveys
Regular Irregular Immigrants
Italians immigrants immigrants Italians Residing in Italy
Information 69% 34% --- 88% 63%

17. Abortions among
immigrants

18. Percentages of voluntary abortions among immigrant
women (1980 – 2006)
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
8 0 81 82 83 84 85 8 6 87 88 89 9 0 91 92 93 94 9 5 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 0 6
19 19 19 1 9 19 1 9 19 1 9 19 19 19 19 19 19 1 9 19 19 19 1 9 19 20 20 20 2 0 20 2 0 20

19. Abortion rates in Italy according to age and nationality
Age Nationality
italian Foreign
18-24 11,2 56,1
25-29 10,4 48,0
30-34 9,2 39,3
35-39 7,6 26,4
40-44 3,9 10,5
45-49 0,4 0,7
7,8 34,0

20. Abortions according to immigrants nationality
1995 2004
Nationality
N % N %
EUROPA
- East Europe 2.638 30,0 18.595 51,2
- Other UE countries 659 7,5 942 2,6
AFRICA 2.297 26,1 6.232 17,2
ASIA 1.419 16,1 3.928 10,8
AMERICA
- North 118 1,3 110 0,2
- South 1.653 18,8 6.548 18,0
OCeania 18 0,2 14 0,1
TOTALE 8.802 100,0 36.323 100,0

21. How to solve the problems
Although this is a really short overview of the relationship between immigrants and
healthcare in Italy, the following could be possible solutions to meet immigrants’needs
and limit risks linked to their health condition:
-It is necessary to promote actions aimed at reducing diseases among immigrants
(through campaigns, trainings, information);
-A network of public healthcare services should specifically address immigrants and
provide them with health care information and services
-Information campaigns and Italian population availability should be developed in order
to receive immigrants and avoid their discrimination.