Abstract
Background
In 1999, a group of Kosovars arrived in Hamilton, Ontario, with a coordinated international pre-migration plan, as part of the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Program. Since 1997, a substantial number of Roma refugees from the Czech Republic also arrived in Hamilton, with no special pre-migration planning. This study examined whether the organized settlement efforts led to better adaptation and perceived health for the Kosovars, using the Czech Roma as a comparison group.
Methods
Adult members of 50 Kosovar (n=157 individuals) and 50 Czech Roma (n=76 individuals) randomly selected families completed a questionnaire on sociodemographics, health, well-being, and perceived adaptation to Canada. Differences between groups were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Comparison was made to the Ontario population where possible.
Results
There were more Kosovars than Czech Roma over the age of 50 (22.1% vs 10.5%, p=0.03). Nearly one quarter (21.7%) of the Kosovars had a score indicating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), compared to none of the Roma (p<0.001). After adjustment for age and PTSD, the Kosovars were significantly more likely to report fair or poor adaptation to Canada (OR=10.5, 95% CI=3.6-31.2) and that life is somewhat or very stressful (OR=3.9, 95% CI=2.1-7.4). Differences for other measures were no longer significant after adjustment.
Conclusions
The health and adaptation of the Kosovars was not better than that of the Czech Roma. Reasons for this finding may include differences in demographics, the presence of PTSD, and differing length of time since arrival in Canada.
Résumé
Contexte
En 1999, un groupe de Kosovars arrivait à Hamilton (Ontario) dans le cadre d’un plan international pré-migratoire coordonné par le Programme d’évacuation humanitaire des Nations Unies. Depuis 1997, un nombre important de réfugiés tziganes de la République tchèque sont également arrivés à Hamilton, mais sans le bénéfice d’une planification pré-migratoire. Nous avons voulu déterminer si les efforts d’établissement organisés ont amélioré l’adaptation et la santé perçue des Kosovars, en utilisant les Tziganes tchèques comme groupe témoin.
Méthode
Les membres adultes de 50 familles kosovares (n=157) et de 50 familles tziganes tchèques (n=76) sélectionnées au hasard ont rempli un questionnaire comportant des données socio-démographiques, sur la santé, sur le bien-être et sur l’adaptation perçue au Canada. Les différences entre les groupes ont été examinées à l’aide d’analyses bivariées et multivariées. Dans la mesure du possible, nous avons comparé les données obtenues à celles de la population ontarienne.
Résultats
Les Kosovars de plus de 50 ans étaient plus nombreux que les Tziganes tchèques de cette tranche d’âge (22,1 % contre 10,5 %, p=0,03). Près du quart (21,7 %) des Kosovars avaient un score indiquant un syndrome de stress post-traumatique (SSPT) selon le questionnaire Harvard d’évaluation des traumatismes, mais ce n’était le cas pour aucun des Tziganes (p<0,001). Après ajustement selon l’âge et le SSPT, les Kosovars étaient de manière significative plus susceptibles de déclarer s’être mal ou passablement adaptés au Canada (RC=10,5, IC de 95 % = 3,6-31,2) et avoir une vie assez ou très stressante (RC= 3,9, IC de 95 % = 2,1-7,4). Les différences constatées par d’autres mesures n’étaient plus significatives après ajustement.
Conclusions
La santé et l’adaptation des Kosovars n’étaient pas meilleures que celles des Tziganes tchèques. Ce résultat pourrait s’expliquer par les écarts démographiques, le SSPT et la durée du séjour au Canada dans chaque groupe.
Footnotes
Funding Sources: This study was supported by the Hamilton Community Foundation, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and Settlement/OASIS (Ontario Administration on Settlement and Integration Services), Ontario Region.
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