Immigrant Health in the United States: A Trajectory Toward Change

Introduction: Immigrants have a negative health trajectory due to interactions between immigration policies and the totality of the immigration experience. Despite the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, an association with the sociopolitical environment and its influence on chronic disease prevalence remains. The purpose of this review was to provide evidence for existing health disparities among immigrants based on ethnicity, immigration status, country of origin, duration in the United States. The sociopolitical environment affecting immigrant health and opportunities to change the course toward ameliorating health disparities is discussed. Method: Using PRISMA guidelines, the literature focused on immigrants, disease prevalence, health care access, and policy. Twenty-nine articles were selected for this review. Results: Chronic disease prevalence is associated with the restrictive immigration and health care policies among all immigrant groups. Discussion: Recent evidence and the current immigration debate signify an opportunity to explore strategies to improve health outcomes among immigrants.