We have conducted various studies using healthcare records to examine health disparities and the social determinants of health. In particular, we have done research that examines the impacts of immigration and healthcare policies on health outcomes.
The Health Impact of DACA on U.S. Citizen Children
In Hainmueller et al. (2017), we provided causal evidence on the impact of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on the health of U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families. Utilizing Medicaid claims data from Oregon and the quasi-random assignment of DACA eligibility based on mothers’ birthdates near the program’s age cutoff, we demonstrated that mothers’ DACA eligibility significantly decreased diagnoses of adjustment and anxiety disorders in their children. This research underscores the broad societal impacts of immigration policies beyond the direct recipients.
Expanding Prenatal Care
In Swartz et al. (2017) and Swartz et al. (2019), we analyzed the impacts of Oregon’s expansion of prenatal care access for undocumented women. This program was rolled out gradually across counties, allowing for a quasi-experimental analysis of its effects. Key findings include that access to prenatal care led to significant enhancements in health outcomes for both women and their children.
Immigration Enforcement and Health Care Utilization
In Yasenov et al. (2020), we examined the association between healthcare utilization and immigration enforcement events in San Francisco. This study demonstrated that in the context of the inclusive, local health care system in San Francisco, heightened immigration enforcement was not linked to reduced healthcare visits.
Public Health Insurance for Immigrant Children
In Yasenov et al. (2020), we explored the effects of public health insurance expansion for immigrant children on interstate migration of low-income immigrant families. Our findings showed that the expansion did not lead to significant migration across state lines, inconsistent with the theory of a magnet effect.
Neighborhood Disadvantage and Refugee Health
In Kim et al. (2023), we conducted a quasi-experimental study examining the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and the risk of dementia and mortality among refugees in Denmark. Our findings highlighted that refugees resettled in disadvantaged neighborhoods faced higher risks of dementia and mortality, underscoring the long-term health impacts of resettlement policies and neighborhood environments.
References
Journal Articles
Science
Protecting unauthorized immigrant mothers improves their children’s mental health
Jens Hainmueller, Duncan Lawrence, Leah Marten, Bryan Black, Luis Figueroa, Michael Hotard, Tomás R. Jiménez, Fernando Mendoza, Maria I. Rodriguez, and David D. Laitin
@article{hainmueller2017protecting,title={Protecting unauthorized immigrant mothers improves their children’s mental health},author={Hainmueller, Jens and Lawrence, Duncan and Marten, Leah and Black, Bryan and Figueroa, Luis and Hotard, Michael and Jiménez, Tomás R. and Mendoza, Fernando and Rodriguez, Maria I. and Laitin, David D.},journal={Science},volume={357},number={6355},pages={1041--1044},year={2017},publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science},doi={10.1126/science.aan5893},url={https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan5893},}
Obstet. Gynecol.
Expanding prenatal care to unauthorized immigrant women and the effects on infant health
Jonas J. Swartz, Shannon McCoy, Jens Hainmueller, Megan Van Natta, and Christopher Lyles
@article{swartz2017expanding,title={Expanding prenatal care to unauthorized immigrant women and the effects on infant health},author={Swartz, Jonas J. and McCoy, Shannon and Hainmueller, Jens and Van Natta, Megan and Lyles, Christopher},journal={Obstetrics \& Gynecology},volume={130},number={5},pages={938--945},year={2017},doi={10.1097/AOG.0000000000002303},url={https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002303},}
Matern. Child Health J.
Oregon’s expansion of prenatal care improved utilization among immigrant women
Jonas J. Swartz, Jens Hainmueller, Duncan Lawrence, and Maria I. Rodriguez
@article{swartz2019oregon,title={Oregon’s expansion of prenatal care improved utilization among immigrant women},author={Swartz, Jonas J. and Hainmueller, Jens and Lawrence, Duncan and Rodriguez, Maria I.},journal={Maternal and Child Health Journal},volume={23},pages={173--182},year={2019},publisher={Springer},doi={10.1007/s10995-018-02658-7},url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-02658-7},}
JAMA Netw. Open
Association between health care utilization and immigration enforcement events in San Francisco
Vasil I. Yasenov, Jens Hainmueller, Duncan Lawrence, Maria I. Rodriguez, David D. Laitin, and Fernando S. Mendoza
@article{yasenov2020healthcare,title={Association between health care utilization and immigration enforcement events in San Francisco},author={Yasenov, Vasil I. and Hainmueller, Jens and Lawrence, Duncan and Rodriguez, Maria I. and Laitin, David D. and Mendoza, Fernando S.},journal={JAMA Network Open},volume={3},number={11},pages={e2025065--e2025065},year={2020},publisher={American Medical Association},doi={10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25065},url={https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25065},}
JAMA Pediatr.
Public health insurance expansion for immigrant children and interstate migration of low-income immigrants
Victor I. Yasenov, Duncan Lawrence, Fernando S. Mendoza, and Jens Hainmueller
@article{yasenov2020public,title={Public health insurance expansion for immigrant children and interstate migration of low-income immigrants},author={Yasenov, Victor I. and Lawrence, Duncan and Mendoza, Fernando S. and Hainmueller, Jens},journal={JAMA Pediatrics},volume={174},number={1},pages={22--28},year={2020},publisher={American Medical Association},doi={10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3881},url={https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3881},}
SSM-Popul. Health
Neighborhood disadvantage and the risk of dementia and mortality among refugees to Denmark: A quasi-experimental study
Min H. Kim, Else Foverskov, Trine Frøslev, James S. White, Maria M. Glymour, Jens Hainmueller, and Rita Hamad
@article{kim2023neighborhood,title={Neighborhood disadvantage and the risk of dementia and mortality among refugees to Denmark: A quasi-experimental study},author={Kim, Min H. and Foverskov, Else and Fr{\o}slev, Trine and White, James S. and Glymour, Maria M. and Hainmueller, Jens and Hamad, Rita},journal={SSM-Population Health},volume={21},pages={101312},year={2023},publisher={Elsevier},doi={10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101312},url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101312},}
