Is there a need of health assessments for resettling refugees? A cross-sectional study of 1431 refugees who arrived in Denmark between 2014 and 2018

Anne Mette F Hvass; Marie Norredam; Morten Sodemann; Christian Wejse

doi:10.1016/j.jmh.2021.100044

Is there a need of health assessments for resettling refugees? A cross-sectional study of 1431 refugees who arrived in Denmark between 2014 and 2018

J Migr Health. 2021 Apr 21:3:100044. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2021.100044. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Anne Mette F Hvass^{1

2

3}, Marie Norredam^{4

5}, Morten Sodemann⁶, Christian Wejse^{1

3

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Aarhus, Denmark.
² Department of Social Medicine, Aarhus Municipality, Aarhus, Denmark.
³ Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark.
⁴ Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
⁵ Section for Immigrant Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
⁶ Migrant Health Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital.
⁷ Department of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Aarhus University, Bartolins Alle 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Abstract

Background: Refugees have increased health risks due to factors related to their country of origin, the migration itself and the receiving country. Based on systematic general health assessments of newly arrived refugees, we aimed to study the characteristics with regard to background, migration and health needs.

Methods: All refugees (children/adolescents and adults) arriving in Aarhus, Denmark from 1 January 2014 to 1 November 2018 were offered a general health assessment by a doctor including: medical history, a physical examination and blood samples.

Results: A cohort of 1431 (of 1618 invited, (88.4%) participants accepted the health assessment. The most commonly found health conditions in children were vitamin D deficiency (28.3%), elevated serum-IgE (34%) and lack of immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases (measles 20.1%, polio 3.9%). In adults, vitamin D deficiency (34.6%), IgE elevation (30%), latent tuberculosis (20.3%) and symptoms of PTSD (15.9%) were most prevalent. We found participants from Southern Asia (Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) to be overrepresented with regard to vitamin D deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency and symptoms of PTSD. Furthermore, we found that origin in Africa was associated with latent tuberculosis. In total, 63.8% of examined refugees had one or more health problems requiring further testing, treatment or follow-up.

Conclusions: A comprehensive health assessment among recently arrived refugees showed multiple health issues to address, and demonstrates the need of systematic health assessments for resettling refugees.

Keywords: Health assessment; Health screening; Migrant health; Refugee; Refugee health; Screening.