MSPH Events

12noon – 1pm, Monday 22nd December 2008
Centre for MEGA Epidemiology, Seminar Room 139, Level 1, 723 Swanston Street, Carlton

Jayantha Dassanayake (MAppSc) – Centre for MEGA Epidemiology,  Melbourne School of Population Health 

Introduction: Most migrants, coming to Australia from various cultural backgrounds, demonstrate good if not better health than the Australian-born population, a phenomenon known as the Healthy Migrant Effect (HME). However, challenging to HME is evidence suggesting an increasing prevalence of risk factors for certain serious chronic diseases among migrant populations throughout the world. In comparison to Caucasians, the prevalence of cardio vascular disease (CVD) risk factors has been found to be higher among migrant communities in Australia. Previous authors have suggested that changes of lifestyle may be more closely associated with increased CVD risk than the actual country of birth.  Physical inactivity is one of the major lifestyle-related risk factors among migrants from developing countries.Aims: The primary aim of this thesis was to investigate physical inactivity and CVD risk among immigrants in Australia. The objectives were 1) to investigate whether being an immigrant is a risk factor for Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and stroke 2) to examine whether Australian immigrants are at risk of physical inactivity. 3) to explore the major determinants (barriers and facilitators) to participation in physical activity among immigrant subgroups most at risk of CVD.Methodology: The first two objectives were achieved by analysing the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) and National Health Survey 2001 (ABS, 2002). By combining the results of these investigations three “high risk” migrant groups were identified for further investigations. The third objective was achieved by investigating these three high risk migrant groups and key stake holders who promote physical  activity using qualitative methodology. Results: This study found that male immigrants from three ethnic groups i.e.  USSR/Baltic, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East – and both males and females from Southern Asia to be at a higher risk of AMI than their Australian born counterparts. The female immigrants from the Middle East, Southern Asia, and Southern Europe were at higher risk for stroke than Australian born women. This study also found that immigrants from South East Asia, Other Oceania, the Middle East, Other Asia, and Southern & Eastern Europe were at a significantly higher risk of being physically inactive compared to the Australian born population. The barriers to participation in physical activity in the three “high risk” migrant groups were; high cost of facilities, social isolation, lack of information about available programs, un-welcoming attitudes of staff and lack of family targeted physical activity program. The facilitators were; welcoming staff, low cost or no cost facilities and integration into the Australian sports systemConclusion: The findings from this study will add to the relatively sparse body of knowledge on this topic and, more importantly, they may assist policy makers at the national and local level to better tackle the high CVD rate and low physical activity level in certain high-risk immigrant subgroups in Victoria, and Australia-wide.

 All welcome. No RSVP required.

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