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. 2022 Jul 1;33(4):593-605.
doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001480. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Immigrant-Related Policies and the Health Outcomes of Latinx Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review

Danielle M Crookes  1 , Kaitlyn K Stanhope  2 , Shakira F Suglia  3
Affiliations

Immigrant-Related Policies and the Health Outcomes of Latinx Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review

Danielle M Crookes et al. Epidemiology. .

Abstract

Background: US federal and subfederal immigrant-related policy activity has increased in recent years. We hypothesize that these policies are structural determinants of health for Latinx communities, operating through access to resources, discriminatory enforcement, and stress.

Methods: We searched seven databases for quantitative studies, published as of September 2021, examining the association between the presence of federal, state, or local immigrant-related policy(ies), over time or cross-sectionally, and mental or physical health outcomes among immigrant or US-born Latinx adults. We rated studies on methodologic quality.

Results: Eleven studies were included. Policies included federal and state policies. Health outcomes included mental health (seven studies), self-rated health (n = 6), and physical disability (n = 1). Among immigrant, noncitizen, or Spanish-preferring Latinx adults, exclusionary policies were associated with poor self-rated health, physical disability, and poor mental health. Inclusive policies were associated with better health, although null findings were more common than among studies of exclusionary policies. Only three studies separately examined policy effects on US-born or citizen Latinx adults and these findings were often null. All studies received a weak overall study quality rating; among quality domains, studies were strongest in confounding control and weakest in outcome information bias and reporting missing data approaches.

Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that immigrant-related policies, especially exclusionary policies, are structural drivers of health for immigrant or noncitizen Latinx adults. However, evidence is scant among US-born or citizen Latinx adults. Studies of policies and physical health outcomes besides disability are lacking, as are results disaggregated by nativity and/or citizenship status.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flow chart of the study selection for systematic review
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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