General characteristics of the original articles included in the scoping review on health and immigration in Spain

© 2014, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo. All rights reserved. Background: The new socio-demographic reality that came about with the incorporation of the immigrant population in Spain requires an analysis of the needs and priorities generated by this situation in all areas, including research in health. The objective of this study is to determine the general characteristics of a group of articles included in a literature review on the subject, carried out within the framework of the CIBERSP Subprogram on Migration and Health. Methods: Scoping Review of the literature published in the period 1998-2012. Articles in Spanish or English developed in Spain and that fulfil the definition of immigrant from the International Organization for Migration were selected. The literature search was performed in Medline and MEDES. The temporal distribution of the production and main characteristics of the articles are described trough absolute and relative frequencies. Results: The initial search identified 2.625 articles (Medline 2434; 191 Medes-MEDicina) 311 were including finally. Most epidemiological studies are cross-sectional design with primary data. 69% compared with native population. The main theme has been associated with infectious diseases (n=217, 70%). The period of maximum production is between 2004 and 2011(n=256, 82%). The country of origin is the most common way of classifying immigrants (n=220, 71%). Conclusions: The epidemiology of infectious prevails as the main theme of the studies performed in Spain about the health of the immigrant population. Most of the studies include native population as a comparison group.