Counting the non-existing: causes of death of undocumented migrants in Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), 2005–2010 | Archives of Public Health | Full Text

Counting the non-existing: causes of death of undocumented migrants in Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), 2005–2010 | Archives of Public Health | Full Text

Archives of Public Health

Counting the non-existing: causes of death of undocumented migrants in Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), 2005–2010

• Dirk Lafaut, 
• Hadewijch Vandenheede, 
• Johan Surkyn & 
• Gily Coene 

Archives of Public Health volume 77, Article number: 42 (2019) | Download Citation

Article metrics

• 38 Accesses
• 1 Altmetric
• Metricsdetails

Abstract

Background

So far knowledge about undocumented migrant health status is poor. The objective of this study is to compare patterns in causes of death between undocumented migrants and legal residents, of both migrant and non-migrant origin.

Method

Using cause-of-death data, we compared undocumented migrants with Belgian residents and documented migrants through logistic regression analyses..

Results

This study shows that male undocumented migrants have a significantly higher risk of death from cardiovascular diseases compared to male Belgian residents (OR: 1.37) and documented migrants (OR: 2.17). Male undocumented migrants also have an increased risk of dying from external causes of death compared to documented migrants (OR: 1.93). Furthermore, we found a lower risk of suicidal death in undocumented migrants compared to Belgian residents (OR men: 0.29, OR women: 0.15).

Conclusions

We found important differences in underlying causes of death between undocumented migrants and residents in Belgium. These findings urge us to claim improved healthcare provision for undocumented migrants in Belgium.

Trial registration

Medical ethics committee UZ Jette, Brussels, Belgium – Registration date: 18/05/2016 – Registration number: B.U.N. 143201628279.