Measuring Health Inequalities Among Migrant and Native Population in Greece at Times of Crisis.

The paper aims at presenting the results of the MIGHEAL project funded by the EEA (European Economic Area) mechanism. The main goal of the project was to measure empirically the health disadvantage among the migrant population as compared to the native-born population in Greece, from the perspective of the rising social and income inequalities during the ongoing economic and social crisis.

Data are drawn from a survey conducted among the native-born and migrant population in Greece in 2016, in order to examine the social inequalities in physical health and their determinants as well as the health usage and health needs of the migrant population in comparison to the natives. Based largely on the theoretical assumptions developed in the health module of the 7th round of the European Social Survey (ESS), the data provide evidence for self-reported health outcomes such as general health, depressive symptoms, non-communicable diseases, health care use and access, risk behaviours, and social determinants of health. One of the key findings is the high prevalence of self-rated depressive symptoms compared to ESS figures, especially among Greek females. This outcome will be discussed in relation to the prolonged crisis and the need for informed policies on mental health care for all, with special concerns for the native-born population.