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Background: Health disparities, including adverse birth outcomes, exist between Turkish immigrants and the autochthonous population in Germany. The state of research on the risk of preterm birth (PTB, defined as <37 weeks of gestation), the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity, among Turkish immigrant women is mixed. Perceived discrimination is discussed in the context of health disparities related to migration. We examined whether PTB risk is also increased in Turkish immigrant women in Germany and whether perceived discrimination due to origin contributes to this risk.
Methods: We selected a sample from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study of German autochthonous and Turkish immigrant women who recently gave birth (between 2002 and 2016) (N = 2,525, incl. n = 217 Turkish immigrant women of which n = 111 completed an item on perceived discrimination). The included variables of central interest were immigrant status, perceived discrimination, gestational age, and socioeconomic situation.
Results: Logistic regression models indicated that PTB risk was significantly higher for Turkish immigrant women than autochthonous women (OR: 2.75, 95% CI [1.79–4.16]), even when adjusting for socioeconomic status. Within the subsample of Turkish immigrant women, perceived discrimination was related to a significantly higher PTB risk (OR: 4.91, 95% CI [1.76–15.06]).
Conclusions: Our study provides evidence for a higher PTB risk in Turkish immigrant women compared to autochthonous women in Germany. Perceived discrimination may contribute to this higher risk. The findings represent an important first step towards developing targeted interventions to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes in minority groups.
Background:
The population-based mammography screening program (MSP) is aimed to reduce breast cancer mortality, to detect breast cancer at an early stage, and to allow for less invasive treatment. However, it also has
some potential harms, such as overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Therefore, it is necessary that women receive sufficient and balanced information to enable informed decision-making. We examined knowledge about benefits and harms of the MSP in Germany among first-time invitees of different socio-demographic backgrounds.
Methods:
This observational study assessed knowledge about benefits and harms of the MSP among women who were invited to the MSP for the first time by six multiple choice items, using a postal survey. We investigated (i)
single items of knowledge, (ii) the distribution of sufficient knowledge stratified by education, migration status and
invitation, and (iii) possible determinants of sufficient knowledge by analyzing Odds Ratios (ORs) using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Results:
In total, 5397 women included in the analyses. 46.1% of the study population had sufficient knowledge about benefits and harms of the MSP. However, women with low educational level and migration background had
higher proportions of insufficient knowledge and used most frequently the option “don’t know”. Women had the most difficulties answering the numeric question and the question about the target group correctly. Results from the logistic regression showed that the odds of having sufficient knowledge were higher among well-educated women (OR 3.84, 95%CI 3.24–4.55), among women who already received the MSP invitation (OR 1.38, 95%CI 1.20–1.59) and lowest among Turkish women (OR 0.14, 95%CI 0.07–0.25).
Conclusions:
Women with low education and migration background need adapted information regarding benefits and harms of the MSP and are important target groups for further developing the information material about
mammography screening to reduce disparities in knowledge and enable informed decision-making.
Background: Informed choice is of ethical and practical importance in mammography screening. To assess the level to which decisions regarding such screening are informed is thus imperative, but no specific instrument has been available to measure informed choice in the German mammography screening programme. The aims of this study were to develop the Informed Choice in Mammography Screening Questionnaire (IMQ) and to find first evidence for the factor structure, reliability and validity of its different components.
Methods: The IMQ was sent to 17.349 women aged 50 in Westphalia-Lippe, Germany. The instrument has been developed after consideration of (1) the results of qualitative interviews on decision making in the mammography screening programme, (2) relevant literature on other informed choice instruments and (3) a qualitative study on influencing factors. The IMQ comprises 3 scales (attitude, norms, and barriers), 1 index (knowledge) and singular items covering intention to participate and sociodemographic variables. To assess the psychometric properties of the components of the IMQ, confirmatory factor and item response theory analyses were conducted. Additionally, reliability, validity and item statistics were assessed.
Results: 5.847 questionnaires were returned (response rate 33.7%). For attitude, the confirmatory factor analysis supported a one-factor structure. For norms, the model fit was not acceptable. Reliability levels were good with a Cronbach‘s α of.793 for attitude (4 items) and.795 for norms (5 items). For barriers, 9 items were deleted because of low discrimination indices; 6 items remained. The hypothesised assumption-subscale and the importance-subscale were confirmed, but these subscales showed poor reliabilities with Cronbach‘s α=.525 (4 items) and.583 (2 items). For the knowledge index, item response theory analysis showed that 6 out of 7 items were suitable. Hypotheses concerning the correlations between the different components were confirmed, which supported their convergent and divergent validity.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the IMQ is a multidimensional instrument. Further development of the barriers and norms scales is necessary. The IMQ can be utilised to assess the level of informed choices as well as influencing factors.
Background:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has an age-dependent prevalence of 10% in adults. The majority of CKD patients are treated in general practice. Although international guidelines recommend referral in patients with GFR <30, the German Societies for Nephrology and Internal Medicine recommend specialist referral for all subjects with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <45 or eGFR 45-59 ml/min/ 1,73m2 with additional risk factors. This analysis was performed to evaluate the public health implications of lowering the threshold value for referral.
Methods:
Data of the population based cohort Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-2) were analysed to estimate the proportion of subjects who meet different referral criteria, billing data to estimate actual referral rate and public health implications of implementing different referral criteria were estimated with regard to cost and health resources utilization.
Results:
Data of 2328 subjects from SHIP-2 (53% female; age M = 57 Jahre, SD = 14)were analyzed. 3% of subjects had eGFR<45ml/min/1,73m2. 6% had an eGFR between 45-59 ml/min/1,73m2. Proposed German referral criteria were met by 8% of subjects, with 41% in the age group 80+ meeting referral criteria, wheras NICE and KDIGO criteria limited referral to 1-2%. Yearly referral as estimated from billing data was ca.2%. Results are preliminary and data comparing cost and health resources utilization will be available at the conference.
Conclusions:
Adherence to the proposed German referral criteria would greatly increase the number of referrals, especially in the elderly. This can lead to a major increase in cost, as well as serious problems with respect to the capacity of the nephrological workforce. Because of lack of a specific nephrological therapy in earlier stages of CKD in patients without additional risk factors, the benefit of increasing referrals in this group seems doubtful. Referral criteria for common medical conditions should be evaluated rigorously.
Background:
Preterm birth (PTB) is one of the most severe risk factors for early child death and developmental impairment. Epidemiological research suggests that immigrants from lower to higher income countries exhibit a health decline over time that is transmitted to the offspring generation in which health disparities become prevalent already at a very early age in terms of adverse birth outcomes. Perceived discrimination (PD) is discussed in the context of health disparities related to migration. The relationship between PD and health outcomes is still understudied among Turkish immigrants in Germany. We examined whether PD contributes to PTB risk in Turkish immigrant women.
Methods:
We used data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). The newborn questionnaire (“Mother-Child: Age 0-1”, 2003 – 2016, v33) provided information on birth outcomes and we included information on maternal socioeconomic situation, migration background and PD due to origin (for Turkish immigrant women only) that were collected in the survey before birth. The final sample comprised N = 2,525 (8.60% Turkish immigrant women). A dummy variable indicating occurrence of PTB (0 = non PTB, i.e. ≥ 37 wks of gestation, 1 = PTB, i.e. < 37 weeks of gestation) was used as the outcome variable in logistic regression models.
Results:
Logistic regression models on the whole sample indicated a higher risk of PTB among Turkish compared to German native women (OR: 2.75) that remained after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Within the subsample of Turkish women, prenatal PD was related to a higher risk for PTB (OR: 4.91).
Conclusions:
Unlike in other studies we found evidence for a higher prevalence of PTB among Turkish immigrant women in the SOEP data. PD may explain the prevalence of PTB among Turkish immigrant women in Germany. There is a need for further research examining the impact of discrimination on the intergenerational transmission of health disparities among Turkish immigrants in Germany.
Die Sozialepidemiologie befasst sich mit der sozialen Verteilung von Erkrankungsrisiken und Gesundheitschancen und den daraus resultierenden gesundheitlichen Ungleichheiten. Für die letzten 20 Jahre lässt sich ein kontinuierlicher Zuwachs an sozialepidemiologischen Forschungsbefunden in Deutschland konstatieren. Mit den gesundheitlichen Ungleichheiten und den sozialen Determinanten der Gesundheit adressiert die Sozialepidemiologie Kernbereiche von Public Health, deren Bearbeitung auch in Zukunft erheblichen Einfluss auf die wissenschaftlichen, politischen und praxisorientierten Perspektiven des Fachs haben dürfte.
Das Zusammenspiel zwischen Migration, Gesundheit und sozialer Lage ist durch verschiedene Wirkmechanismen gekennzeichnet. Die soziale Lage beeinflusst gesundheitliche Chancen und Risiken sowie die Migration selbst und trägt dazu bei, ob migrationsbedingte Einflüsse auf die Gesundheit verstärkt oder abgeschwächt werden. Migration ist bedeutend für die Erklärung gesundheitlicher Ungleichheit, obgleich Verzerrungen und Messartefakte bei Interpretationen berücksichtigt werden müssen.
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is age-dependent and has a high prevalence in the general population. Most patients are managed in ambulatory care. This systematic review provides an updated overview of quality and content of international clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of non-dialysis CKD relevant to patients in ambulatory care. Methods: We identified guidelines published from 2012-to March 2018 in guideline portals, databases and by manual search. Methodological quality was assessed with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument.
Recommendations were extracted and evaluated.
Results: Eight hundred fifty-two publications were identified, 9 of which were eligible guidelines. Methodological quality ranged from 34 to 77%, with domains “scope and purpose” and “clarity of presentation” attaining highest and “applicability” lowest scores. Guidelines were similar in recommendations on CKD definition, screening of patients with diabetes and hypertension, blood pressure targets and referral of patients with progressive or stage G4 CKD. Definition of high risk groups and recommended tests in newly diagnosed CKD varied.
Conclusions: Guidelines quality ranged from moderate to high. Guidelines generally agreed on management of patients with high risk or advanced CKD, but varied in regarding the range of recommended measurements, the need for referrals to nephrology, monitoring intervals and comprehensiveness. More research is needed on efficient management of patients with low risk of CKD progression to end stage renal disease.
Aim: In Germany, very little is known about the need for assistance and nursing care support among cancer patients after hospitalization. The aim of this study was to describe nursing care support for cancer patients and to analyse whether these patients need more care assistance than other persons in need for care.
Methods: This was a registry linkage study conducted in 2011. Cases were identified from the population-based cancer registry for the Muenster District in north-western Germany and in factually anonymised form linked by a semi-automatic probabilistic procedure (the standard procedure of the cancer registry) with medical examination records of patients applying for assistance and nursing care support from the regional statutory health insurance. The application records of 4,029 patients with colon, breast and prostate cancer were compared to a reference group of 13,104 non-cancer patients.
Results: In only 41.7% of colon, 45.8% of breast and 37.4% of prostate cancer patients was the malignancy the main underlying diagnostic cause for the application of assistance and nursing care. These patients were on average younger (mean age 71.1 vs. 76.8 years) than the non-cancer reference group, required higher levels of support (79.5 vs. 58.1% “considerable” or higher level care need) and their applications were less likely to be rejected (odds ratios [ORs] 0.26, 0.28, and 0.31, respectively). By contrast, the proportion of successful applications and the level of support granted did not differ between multimorbid cancer patients with other main diagnoses as compared to non-cancer applicants.
Conclusion: Patients with colon, breast or prostate cancer do not need per se more nursing care than non-cancer patients. Only if cancer is the main underlying diagnosis for nursing care support, higher levels of support are needed.
Der Zusammenhang zwischen Migration und Gesundheit ist vielschichtig. In aktuellen Erklärungsmodellen werden verschiedene Determinanten und Dimensionen angeführt, die über den Lebenslauf von Migranten zu gesundheitlichen Vor- und Nachteilen führen können. Gesundheitsversorgung und Public Health in einem Einwanderungsland wie Deutschland müssen diese gesundheitlichen Unterschiede beachten und – neben den bei besonderen Risikokonstellationen notwendigen gezielten Maßnahmen für Migranten – sich insgesamt so ausrichten, dass sie der Diversität der Bevölkerung gerecht werden. Besondere Chancen bieten dabei Ansätze, die im Rahmen von integrierten kommunalen Strategien zur Gesundheitsförderung die Bedarfe der Menschen in ihren Lebenswelten aufgreifen.
Hintergrund: Herausforderungen, wie die geringste Hausarztdichte Deutschlands und eine ungünstige Altersstruktur beeinflussen die ärztliche Versorgung in strukturschwachen Regionen Brandenburgs. Das Forschungsprojekt DIGILOG untersucht im Rahmen des Gesundheitscampus Brandenburg die Zufriedenheit der älteren Bevölkerung mit dem Zugang zur Haus- und Facharztversorgung.
Methoden: Anfang 2018 wurden per standardisiertem Fragebogen mit sowohl geschlossenen als auch offenen Fragen 3.006 zufällig ausgewählte 50 – 70-jährige Einwohner im Landkreis Oberspreewald-Lausitz zu soziodemografischen Merkmalen sowie zur aktuellen und künftigen Haus- und Facharztversorgung befragt. Die Response beträgt 17,5% und ergibt eine Stichprobe mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 62 Jahren (51% weiblich).
Ergebnisse: Der Zugang gilt als zufriedenstellend (Hausarzt (HA) 93%, Facharzt (FA) 87,8%). Es werden künftig Berentung, mangelnde Nachfolge und lange Wartezeiten befürchtet. 84% haben im letzten Jahr einen FA konsultiert (häufigste: Augenarzt (93 ×), Urologe, Orthopäde (je 74 ×). Der HA ist in rund x̃ = 4 km [0 – 64] und 10 Min. [0 – 90], der FA in x̃ = 15 km [0 – 338] und 20 Min. [0 – 338] überwiegend mit dem Auto (HA 60,9%; FA 77%) erreichbar. Beim HA wird 59 Min. [0 – 180], beim FA 57 Min. [0 – 240] gewartet.
Schlussfolgerungen: Obwohl derzeit der Zugang trotz offener Arztstellen insgesamt noch zufriedenstellend ist, drohen in naher Zukunft Versorgungsdefizite, zeitnah besonders in der fachärztlichen Versorgung. Neue Versorgungskonzepte, wie Community Nurses oder digitale Lösungen, könnten diese z.T. auffangen und Wartezeiten bei akuten Beschwerden verkürzen.
Integrierte Strategien zur kommunalen Gesundheitsförderung in multikulturellen Gesellschaften
(2018)
Hintergrund: Der Zusammenhang zwischen Migration und Gesundheit ist komplex. Aktuelle Erklärungsmodelle führen Faktoren an, die bei Migranten zu gesundheitlichen Vor- aber auch Nachteilen führen können. Angebote der Gesundheitsförderung müssen sich – neben gezielten Maßnahmen für Migranten – so ausrichten, dass sie der Diversität der Bevölkerung gerecht werden. Neue Chancen bieten dabei integrierte kommunale Strategien zur Gesundheitsförderung, die die Bedarfe der Menschen in ihren Lebenswelten adressieren.
Methoden: Basierend auf theoretischen und empirischen Arbeiten sowie Praxisbeispielen aus dem Bereich Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention werden anhand von sechs Bausteinen Ansätze für eine migrationssensible, integrierte kommunale Gesundheitsförderung entwickelt.
Ergebnisse: Wesentliche Bausteine einer integrierten Gesundheitsförderungsstrategie beinhalten: migrationssensible Gesundheitsberichterstattung, ressortübergreifende Vernetzung von lokalen Gesundheitsförderungsakteuren unter Einbindung von Migrantenorganisationen, strukturelle Verankerung von „Kümmererfunktionen“ (z.B. Koordinierungsstelle Migration & Gesundheit), Strukturentwicklung im Quartier, Qualifizierung von Fachkräften zu Diversität und Gesundheit, interkulturelle Öffnung der kommunalen Verwaltung.
Schlussfolgerungen: Die strukturelle Verankerung von Gesundheit mittels integrierter kommunaler Strategien bietet neue Möglichkeiten für die Umsetzung von Diversity Mainstreamingprozessen, wie einer fachbereichsübergreifenden Vernetzung und interkulturellen Öffnung der Verwaltung. Neben den sechs Bausteinen erfordert integriertes Handeln bei der Entwicklung von gesunden Lebenswelten eine diversitätssensible Grundhaltung, interkulturelle Kompetenz und die Partizipation von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund.
Our aim was to provide data regarding uptake of gynecological early detection measures and performance of breast self-examinations among migrant women in Germany. Cross-sectional self-reported data were collected using paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Descriptive analyses, Chi square-tests, and logistic regression were applied. Results were adjusted for educational level. Of 5387 women, 89.9% were autochthonous, 4.1% German resettlers, 2.8% Turkish, 3.1% other migrants. Participation rates regarding cancer screening differed significantly, with the lowest proportion in Turkish migrants (65.0%), resettlers (67.8%), other migrants (68.2%) and autochthonous population (78.2%). No differences in performance of breast self-examinations were detected. When adjusted for education, results indicated only slight changes in the odds to participate in screening irregularly or not at all. Results support existing evidence by showing lower participation rates in cancer screening among migrant women, but there were no differences regarding breast self-examinations. Migrant women form a potential high-risk group for late-stage diagnosis of cervical or breast cancer.
Die Rekrutierung von Studienteilnehmern aller relevanten Bevölkerungsgruppen stellt eine der Herausforderungen in der (sozial-)epidemiologischen Forschung dar. Es existiert eine Vielzahl von Strategien, die der Rekrutierung von ethnischen Minderheiten und bestimmter Migrantengruppen dienen können. Unklar ist bisher, ob diese Strategien auch bei der Etablierung einer Geburtskohorte geeignet sind. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Darstellung und Evaluation von Rekrutierungsstrategien für Migrantinnen in einer Geburtskohorte am Beispiel der BaBi-Studie. Die Rekrutierung erfolgte von Oktober 2013 bis Oktober 2016. Als Vorbereitung wurden Fokusgruppen mit Schwangeren und Müttern und leitfadengestützte Experteninterviews mit Hebammen und GynäkologInnen durchgeführt, um Studienmaterialien, Befragungsinstrumente und Sprachpräferenzen zu prüfen. In der Vorstudie wurden unterschiedliche Rekrutierungswege getestet. Im Rekrutierungsverlauf fand eine kontinuierliche Evaluation statt, um erfolgreiche Rekrutierungsstrategien für Teilnehmerinnen mit Migrationshintergrund zu ermitteln und anzupassen. Von den eingeschlossenen 980 Teilnehmerinnen hatten 390 einen Migrationshintergrund (40%). Es wurden aktive und passive Rekrutierungsstrategien verfolgt, in denen u. a. türkische Übersetzungen und multikulturelles Personal zum Einsatz kamen. Für die passive Rekrutierung über gynäkologische Praxen und Hebammen mussten die schwangeren Frauen und Wöchnerinnen eine hohe Motivation für die Rekrutierung mitbringen. Die aktive Rekrutierung in den Geburtskliniken (Ansprache durch Study-Nurses) erhöhte den Anteil an Teilnehmerinnen mit Migrationshintergrund von 22 auf 49% aller Teilnehmerinnen. Durch frühzeitige Überprüfungen und Anpassungen der Zugangswege konnte die Teilnahmebereitschaft erhöht werden.
Für die Rekrutierung von Frauen mit Migrationshintergrund sind gründliche Vorbereitungen in Form von Befragungen (Fokusgruppen, Leitfadeninterviews) und einer Vorstudie sinnvoll. Von Beginn an sind Verfahren zur frühzeitigen Evaluation der unterschiedlichen Rekrutierungsstrategien und ein erhöhter Personalaufwand (z. B. für (Rück-/ Übersetzungen) einzuplanen). Der Einschluss von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund in sozialepidemiologischen Studien sollte in Deutschland zur Normalität werden.
Background:Turkish-origin immigrants constitute one of the biggest migration groups in Germany where they exhibit higher levels of social disadvantage when compared to the majority population. Research has elucidated the underlying mechanisms by which social disadvantage is biologically embedded to impact health over the lifespan. However, relatively little is known about how its effects are transmitted across generations.
Aims of the study: To elucidate the effects of maternal migration status and socioeconomic status on stress-related maternal-placental-foetal (MPF) biological processes across gestation and on subsequent infant birth and health outcomes.
Methods: We are conducting a longitudinal cohort study of N = 450 child-mother dyads with serial measures across gestation and birth through the first year of life. Our proposed study population will include approximately equal numbers of Turkish-origin women in Germany, German women in Germany, Turkish women living in Turkey and their offspring. Study visits are conducted from the second trimester of pregnancy to the end of the first year of life to assess maternal socio-economic and migration-related information, psychological well-being, nutrition, medical risk variables, and MPF stress biology markers from maternal blood and saliva samples. Infant anthropometric measures, developmental outcomes and stress markers in saliva are assessed throughout the first year of life.
Analyses: We will test specific hypotheses regarding the association between migration background, socioeconomic status and MPF stress biology. We will furthermore quantify the association of maternal migration background- and social disadvantage-related MPF stress biology measures on pregnancy and child health outcomes.
Discussion: This is the first study on foetal programming of health disparities with a focus on Turkish-origin women in Germany. The significance and impact of this study derives from the importance of achieving a better understanding of underlying mechanisms that alter disease vulnerability in minority and disadvantaged populations.
Background: Disparities in breastfeeding practices have been observed between migrants and majority populations in many countries. We compared breastfeeding practices among women with and without a migration background in Bielefeld, Germany, using data from a birth cohort.
Methods: In 2013-16, we conducted 967 standardised interviews with women aged over 18 during pregnancy or shortly after birth, collecting data on breastfeeding uptake and duration intention, as well as on socio-economic and migration background. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed, adjusting for clinical factors (e.g. age, parity, birthweight).
Results: Breastfeeding uptake was more common among women with a migration background than among non-immigrants (88.9% vs. 83%, p < 0.05). It was particularly high among 2nd and 3rd generation women (92%). Women with a migration background tended to intend to breastfeed longer than non-immigrants (6.2% vs 7.6% between 6 months and one year and 0.67% vs. 2.53% beyond one year). When controlling for clinical and socio-economic characteristics, only a statistically significant correlation between breastfeeding uptake and the opinion of the mother and of the partner with regard to breastfeeding remained, with a negative opinion decreasing the chances of uptake (OR 0.5; CI 0.25-0.79 and OR 0.2; CI 0.12-0.36, respectively). Mothers and partners of women with migration background were more likely to strongly support breastfeeding than those of non-immigrants. Duration intention was positively associated with having a migration background (1.98; CI 1.10-3.55) and negatively associated with income, with higher income decreasing likelihood of breastfeeding beyond 6 months (OR 0.6; CI 0.44-0.94).
Conclusions: This study found differences in breastfeeding uptake and duration intention among women with and without a migration background. This calls for public health actions targeting different socio-economic groups if one wants to come closer to the WHO recommended breastfeeding rates. Initiatives that are inclusive of the mother and the partner of the expectant women are also worth considering.
Background: In Germany, women aged 50 to 69 are invited biennially to the population-based mammography screening programme (MSP). There is still a broad discussion whether the benefits of the programme outweigh its harms. Hence, the concept of informed choice is of particular importance for MSP. The aim of this survey was to assess the proportion of informed choices among migrant and non-migrant women invited to the German MSP for the first time.
Methods: A random sample of 17,349 women aged 50 from a sub-region of North Rhine Westphalia was invited to participate in a postal cross-sectional survey conducted in German and Turkish. Turkish and other migrants were identified by country of birth and German resettlers additionally by self-reported resettler-status. Turkish migrant women were oversampled, due to expected lower response-rates. The effect of migration status on informed choice and on its three components (knowledge, attitude and intention) were assessed by chi-square tests and logistic regression modelling.
Results:5,847 (33.7%) women responded to the postal questionnaire. 4,113 complete cases were included in the analyses. The proportion of women making informed choices was low (27.1%). Turkish migrant women had the highest odds for making an uninformed choice (OR 5.30, 95%CI 1.92-14.66) independent of educational level. Other migrant groups only had slightly higher odds for making an uninformed choice (German resettlers: OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.00-2.25; other migrants: OR 1.57, 95%CI 0.96-2.57) compared to non-migrant women. Fewer Turkish and other immigrant women intended to participate in the MSP. Immigrant women had a more positive attitude and a lower proportion of sufficient knowledge compared to non-migrant women.
Conclusions: The overall proportion of informed choice in the German MSP is low and knowledge is poor.
Measures are needed to improve information materials, strengthen health literacy and create a user-friendly environment facilitating informed choices especially for migrant women.
The uptake of existing preventive and health promotion offers by migrants in Germany is rather heterogeneous, and major information gaps are noted. Current results provide limited evidence that migrants and their children seem to use prevention and health promotion services less frequently than non-migrants. In order to improve access to preventive and other health services for migrants, a combination of migrant-specific and migrant-sensitive approaches seems to be useful.