Thursday, March 31, 2011

Discrimination and Health

Ketil Lenert Hansen, Marita Melhus and Eiliv Lund conducted a study to examine the effects of ethnic discrimination and socio-economic status among the Sami.

Objectives: The main goal of this study was to identify the prevalence of poor self-reported health among Sami and non-Sami populations living in Norway, investigate whether ethnicity is associated with poor self-reported health and determine if such associations could be explained by factors such as ethnic discrimination and socio-economic status.

Study design: Cross-sectional questionnaire.

Methods: This study is based on data from population based study of health and living conditions in areas with mixed Sami, Kven and Norwegian majority population (SAMINOR), for which data were collected during 2003 and 2004. The present study included 12,265 individuals aged between 36 and 79. Questions about ethnicity, experiences of ethnic discrimination/bullying, current health situation and socio-demographic characteristics were collected by means of three questionnaires.

Results: Sami respondents reported inferior health conditions in comparison to the Norwegian majority population. The most unsatisfactory conditions were reported by Sami females living outside the defined Sami area. Females typically reported less favourable health conditions than males. Health inequalities varied by age and were more apparent in persons aged in their mid-50s or above.

Across ethnic groups, respondents with the highest education and household income were healthier than others. Furthermore, those reporting to have been frequently discriminated against were more likely to report poorer health than those who did not; the odds ratios. When discrimination was included in the logistical model, the increased risk of poor self-reported health decreased to non-significance for Sami respondents. The estimated risk decreased further when the socio-economic status was taken into account.

Conclusions: This study has found Sami ethnicity to be associated with poorer self-reported health status when compared to the Norwegian majority population. The frequent experiences of ethnic discrimination appear to partially explain inequalities in self-reported health between the Sami and the general Norwegian population.

This study has revealed that social factors such as ethnic discrimination may contribute to ethnic inequalities in self-reported health. The finding directs awareness to ethnic discrimination as being central to understanding the role of social health inequalities among the Sami population.





Reflection:
Members of the Sami population are more likely to face ethnic discrimination and bullying in comparison to the Norwegian majority population. Discrimination may act as a stressor that adversely affects health. Moreover, the Sami population, having experienced colonization and assimilation, could suffer from acculturative stress. Acculturative stress refers to coming to terms with the majority population, including the burden of dealing with two sets of cultural skills, identity issues, self-esteem and despair. Such experience lead to disadvantages that may translate into health conditions.

Bibliography:
Hansen, Ketil L., Marita Melhus, Eiliv Lund. “Ethnicity, Self-Reported Health, Discrimination and Socio-Economic Status: A Study of Sami and Non-Sami Norwegian Populations.” International Journal of Circumpolar Health 69 (2010): 111-128.