[Differences in occupational accidents in Spain according to the worker's country of origin].

OBJECTIVE

Compare the occupational accidents between autochthonous and immigrant workers in Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were obtained from the Spanish Survey of Working Conditions. Nationality was considered as an explicative variable, and the country of origin was regrouped according to the Human Development Index-HDI. Occupational accidents were the outcome. Other variables included were sociodemographic and employment conditions. Prevalences were calculated as well as simple and adjusted odds ratio (OR) (logistic regression) with a 95% confidence interval (CI 95%).

RESULTS

The prevalence of occupational accidents was 12.7% (women, 11.1%) for workers from low HDI countries and 10.3% (women, 8.1%) for Spaniards. A higher risk of occupational accidents was observed among women from low HDI countries compared to Spaniards (adjusted OR 1.66; 95%CI 1.21-2.28).

DISCUSSION

It is necessary to conduct a more thorough causal analysis of occupational accidents among immigrants in order to identify risk factors and strengthen prevention and control strategies.