摘要：We studied differences in cause-specific mortality between highly integrated first- and second-generation Indonesians and native Dutch. We used the municipal population registers and cause-of-death registry to estimate rate ratios via Poisson regression analyses. Although overall mortality levels were similar, cause-of-death patterns varied between Indonesian migrants and native Dutch; the similar levels in overall mortality coincided with the high degree of integration of Indonesians within Dutch society. The differences in cause-of-death patterns may reflect persistent influences of country of origin and migration history. Numerous studies have examined the relation between ethnicity, migration, and health status. 1 – 3 Dutch studies have focused on socioeconomically less affluent Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan, and Antillean/Aruban migrants, for whom large mortality differentials were observed. 2 , 4 – 6 To our knowledge, we are the first to focus on Indonesians, who have largely integrated or even assimilated into Dutch society. 7 – 12 Approximately 126000 Indonesians migrated to the Netherlands between 1945 and 1949 in the aftermath of World War II and the Indonesian War of Independence. 13 , 14 Indonesians have adjusted to Dutch life (e.g., language and culture) smoothly; they have similar income levels to and are employed at equal rates in the government and in the education and health care fields as the native Dutch. 7 – 12 , 15 Our objective was to assess whether Indonesians’ high degree of integration resulted in similar mortality levels and patterns as those of the native Dutch. Persisting mortality differences would indicate that genetic factors or persistent influences from the country of origin affect the health of migrants long after migration.
