Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “REFUGEES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,135 records · Page 63Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Health status of Ethiopian refugees in the United States.

The health status of 239 Ethiopian refugees in the United States was evaluated. Over 70 per cent were males 15-30 years old. Positive PPDs (purified protein derivative of tuberculin) were observed in 72 per cent and 3.4 per cent had abnormal chest x-rays. One patient had active tuberculosis. Other laboratory abnormalities included: intestinal parasites (36.7 per cent), anemia (14.9 per cent), eosinophilia (14 per cent), positive syphilis serology (7.5 per cent), and hepatitis B surface antigenemia (9.4 per cent). The most prevalent intestinal parasites were Giardia lamblia, Trichuris trichiura, and Schistosoma mansoni.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Pregnancy characteristics and outcomes of Cambodian refugees.

This study describes the perinatal characteristics of Cambodian refugees in Massachusetts. Data were abstracted from the records of 452 consecutive pregnancies among Cambodian women and 110 low-income Whites receiving obstetrical services at the same clinic and hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts. Pregnancies of Cambodian women were marked by a higher proportion of older mothers, grand multiparas, previous adverse birth outcomes, and short interpregnancy intervals. We identified maternal anemia (29.9 percent with hemoglobin less than 110 g/L) and inadequate utilization of prenatal care (32.3 percent with first visit in the 3rd trimester) as possible risk factors for the Cambodians. The prevalence of primary cesarean birth was only 6.3 percent in the Cambodians, compared to 15.6 percent in the comparison group, largely due to the infrequent occurrence of prolonged labor among multiparas. Despite the prominence of several risk factors for adverse birth outcomes in this population, major pregnancy complications were less common and the prevalence of low birthweight (6.4 percent) was close to the state average. Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for low birthweight identified young maternal age and short stature as the strongest factors operative in this community. Many of our findings are consistent with a strong cultural emphasis on managing the size of the baby to avoid a difficult labor and delivery.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Results of the expanded program on immunization in the Macedonian refugee camps.

OBJECTIVES: This report summarizes the results of the Macedonian refugee camps' Expanded Program on Immunization. METHODS: Government agencies and nongovernmental organizations implemented an immunization program consisting of 3 mass vaccination campaigns in each of the 7 camps. Before the second mass campaign, weekly immunization clinics were initiated in each camp. Children younger than 48 months were immunized against 8 antigens according to a schedule established by the Macedonian Ministry of Health. RESULTS: Immunization coverage rates in the second campaign were 91% in Cegrane and 73% in Brazda. Coverage rates of the weekly clinics averaged 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating an expanded immunization program in the absence of a stable population is problematic.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medical evacuations and fatalities of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees field employees.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 20 years, the number of conflicts and humanitarian interventions has steadily increased, as has the level of insecurity on operation sites. So far, little information is available concerning the morbidity and mortality of expatriates and local employees working in the field for humanitarian agencies. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in order to review the causes of medical evacuations and deaths of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees field employees. All medical records reported to the headquarter's medical services over 2 years (1994-1995) were collated and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 199 cases (162 medical evacuations, 37 deaths) was reported over these 2 years for a monthly average of 4,151 field employees. Ninety-four men and 68 women were evacuated, 34 men and 3 women died. Expatriate employees represented two-thirds of the cases. Expatriates from Europe, North America, and Japan represented 58 in 122 evacuated expatriates and 2 in 9 deaths of expatriates. The major causes for evacuation were infectious diseases (17%), obstetric-gynecological conditions (15%), accidents (15%), ophthalmology/ear, nose, throat/dentistry (11%), gastrointestinal diseases (10%). The major causes of fatalities were infectious diseases (41%), cancer (24%), accidents (16%), cardiovascular diseases (11%). Firearms caused 4 fatalities and 2 medical evacuations. Fifty-nine percent of the cases occurred in Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious diseases remain a leading cause of fatalities and medical evacuations, particularly AIDS-related diseases among local African employees. A large number of accidents and obstetric-gynecological conditions was also noted. Special emphasis should be put on preventive measures and access to health care for nationals. Systematic data collection and surveillance would help in designing properly adapted strategies to minimize risks for relief workers in the field.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Repetitive escape nightmares of refugees.

Questionnaire responses of 38 Czechoslovak refugees indicated that 84.2% experienced, at least once, a nightmare about being back in their ex-homeland and trying to escape again. The escape nightmares were most frequent within the first 2 years after escape. A significant decrease in frequency was noted 4 years after escape and during the subsequent years.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

MMPI performance of central American refugees and Mexican immigrants.

This study compared the MMPI scores of Central American refugees from Guatemala and El Salvador to those of Mexican immigrants. It was expected that subjects from Guatemala and El Salvador would obtain higher scores on the F, D, Pa, and Sc scales because these subjects came from "war-torn" countries. A multivariate analysis of variance yielded no significant differences between the three groups on any of the validity and clinical scales including F, D, Pa, and Sc. Recommendations for cross-national research are noted especially in light of the new version, or MMPI-2.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Posttraumatic stress symptoms in refugees: assessments with the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Hopkins symptom Checklist-25 in different languages.

The original versions of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 were written and subsequently validated in the Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese languages. For use in a Dutch treatment center, with refugee patients mostly speaking other languages, additional translations were made. The objective of this study was examination of the psychometric properties of some of these new translations, i.e., the Arabic, Farsi, Serbo-Croatian, Russian, and English bilingual adaptations. It is concluded that the psychometric properties of both tests are adequate across those different cultures and are, in general, applicable to measure symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Patterns of symptomatology and patterns of torture and trauma experiences in resettled refugees.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was: (i) to examine the incidence of psychological and medical symptomatology, torture and related trauma in a sample of 191 refugee clients of the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia; and (ii) to identify patterns of current symptoms, patterns of torture and trauma experiences and the relationships between symptoms and experiences. METHOD: Analysis of STARTTS client records permitted the coding of the presence/absence of 41 medical and psychological symptoms and of 33 torture and trauma experiences. Principal components analyses were used to identify patterns of current symptoms and patterns of torture and trauma experiences. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify relationships between current symptoms and traumatic events in the country of origin or en route to Australia. RESULTS: Six factors were extracted for both the symptoms and trauma experiences; the first symptom factor was labelled 'core posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)'. Regression analysis showed that threats and humiliation, and being forced to watch others being tortured best predicted scores on this factor. CONCLUSIONS: Although core PTSD is the dominant factor in symptomatology, comorbidity is high, with another three symptom factors emerging as meaningful. However, client reports of threats and humiliation or forced viewing of others being tortured should alert clinicians to the likely development of core PTSD, if it has not already occurred. Other implications of these findings for treatment and service development are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Intestinal parasites in refugees and asylum seekers entering the Stockholm area, 1987-88: evaluation of routine stool screening.

In order to evaluate the results of routine screening for intestinal parasites, the medical records of 4592 refugees and asylum seekers arriving in the Stockholm area from January 1987 to December 1988 were reviewed. 3938/4592 (86%) delivered stool specimens for examination and intestinal parasites were demonstrated in 651/3938 (17%). Protozoa, mainly Giardia intestinalis, were found in 403/3938 (10%) and helminths, mainly nematodes, in 277/3938 (7%). Intestinal parasites were most frequently recovered in subjects coming from the Indian subcontinent/Southeast Asia and Africa (infection rates 39% and 25%, respectively). Extensive variations in the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection in various ethnic groups (range 4%-39%) were largely attributable to variations in prevalence of helminthic infections (range 2%-34%). Origin from the tropics or subtropics as well as low age, male sex, rural region of domicile before/during exile and short length of stay in Sweden were related to intestinal parasitic infection. Lack of data on morbidity in untreated asymptomatic carriers, limited risks for transmission of the recovered parasites in Sweden as well as the expenses for screening indicate a need for reconsideration of the present praxis of mass screening in favour of a selective screening of high-risk groups based on country of origin and age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Leishmaniasis in refugee and local Pakistani populations.

The epidemiology of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis was investigated in northwest Pakistan. Results suggested similar patterns of endemicity in both Afghan refugee and Pakistani populations and highlighted risk factors and household clustering of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Infectious disease problems in indochinese refugees.

It is necessary to systematically anticipate and sympathetically address a number of both emotional and physical problems with which Indochinese refugees commonly enter our society. Their infectious medical problems are generally common rather than exotic, although unusual diagnoses must occasionally be considered. If diagnosed, they are generally amenable to treatment. They pose little risk to the public health, and the little danger that they do represent can largely be obviated by attention to principles of infection control, personal hygiene, and public sanitation. Table 9 summarizes the screening and management recommendations appropriately applied to clinical care of this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

An outbreak of pyomyositis in a large refugee camp in Thailand.

During a 2-month period, 17 cases of pyomyositis were seen in the hospital population of a large refugee camp for Cambodians in Thailand. The temporal clustering of the cases suggests an epidemic pattern. Patients in this series were generally young and otherwise healthy. All had gram-positive cocci demonstrated in abscess pus, and all responded to surgical drainage. Fourteen (82%) of the cases were initially misdiagnosed by volunteer physicians who were unfamiliar with the disease. The authors suggest that a mosquito-borne virus predisposes to the development of the pyomyositis abscess.

Abscess↗
PubMed1982

Direct dollar costs and savings of screening stool examinations for eggs and parasites in adult Southeast Asian refugees.

Routine stool examinations for eggs and parasites have been recommended for Southeast Asian refugees seeking medical care for any reason. Calculations show that the direct dollar cost of diagnosis and treatment of pathogenic intestinal parasites in asymptomatic adults exceeds the direct dollar cost of disease prevented. However, it is also recognized that a more definitive analysis would require presently unavailable data on morbidity and transmission rates in untreated parasitized adults. Final decisions on screening benefits should consider, but not be limited to, direct dollar cost considerations.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed1984

A clinical study of Laotian refugees infected with Clonorchis sinensis or Opisthorchis viverrini.

Twenty-six Laotian refugees infected with Clonorchis or Opisthorchis liver flukes, and 15 uninfected controls, were assessed clinically by history, physical examination, serum 5'nucleotidase level, and serum immunoglobulin E level. Ultrasound studies of the biliary tract were also done on a subset of six infected subjects. The results showed no differences between subjects and controls with respect to clinical symptoms, physical findings, 5'nucleotidase, or biliary ultrasound. Mean serum IgE levels were four times higher in fluke-infected individuals than uninfected controls (P less than 0.002). Even when those infected with other parasites in addition to Clonorchis were excluded from the analysis, serum IgE levels remained three times higher in fluke infected individuals (P = 0.06). This study provides some evidence that the fluke provokes a mild immune response in the asymptomatic human host but may not require eradication.

Clonorchiasis↗
PubMed1984

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Southeast Asian refugees entering the United States.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited disorder of red blood cell metabolism. Affected individuals may suffer a severe hemolytic crisis when treated with primaquine, an antimalarial. A survey of 966 male Southeast Asian refugees determined that 50 (5.2%) were G6PD-deficient. This prevalence suggests that a G6PD assay should be performed prior to primaquine therapy in this high-risk population.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A survey of filariasis among refugees in south Florida.

Between January 1981 and March 1982, a filariasis survey was conducted among 668 Haitian immigrants and 155 Southeast Asian refugees residing in Florida, U.S.A. Microfilariae were detected only in Haitians, with 6.7% positive for Wuchereria bancrofti and 1.3% positive for Mansonella ozzardi. The majority of individuals with bancroftian filariasis came from five coastal urban areas including Port-au-Prince, Duvalierville, Gonaïves, Leógane and Cap-Haitien. No unequivocal signs of bancroftian filariasis or mansonellosis were seen. Membrane feeding of several species and strains of laboratory-reared mosquitoes on blood from a volunteer microfilaremic with W. bancrofti showed that Aedes aegypti and A. taeniorhynchus, but not Culex quinquefasciatus, were susceptible to infection with the Haitian strain of W. bancrofti. Culicoides furens, a known vector of M. ozzardi in Haiti and present in Florida, was not tested. Further studies are needed to determine the competence of Florida vectors for transmitting W. bancrofti and M. ozzardi to the indigenous human population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Incidence, management, and outcome of childhood empyema: a prospective study of children in Cambodian refugee camps.

To determine the incidence, outcome, and optimal management of empyema, all children less than 15 years of age admitted to Khao-I-Dang Hospital with a diagnosis of empyema during a 23-month period were prospectively studied. Khao-I-Dang Hospital provides care to 137,000 Cambodian children residing in eight refugee camps along the Thai-Cambodian border. Ninety-eight children with empyema were identified, for an annual incidence of 0.37 cases per 1,000 children. All patients had chest tubes inserted on admission, and all were treated with parenteral antibiotics, which included chloramphenicol in 92% of the patients and cloxacillin in 72%. Patients were hospitalized a mean of 30 days, and chest tubes were in place for a mean of 12 days. Surgery was performed on four patients who had bronchopleural fistulas that persisted for more than 14 days. Only one (1%) of the 70 patients treated with cloxacillin required thoracotomy, compared with three (11%) of the 28 patients who did not receive cloxacillin (P = 0.07). In a multiple regression analysis, the presence of pneumatoceles or mediastinal shift on admission chest radiograph, a history of tuberculosis in the family, and an age of more than five years were predictive of a longer duration of chest tube drainage. No patient died in the hospital, and only one patient died in the six months following discharge from the hospital. Chest radiographs that were obtained six months after discharge in 25 patients were all essentially normal, despite marked abnormalities on chest radiographs obtained at discharge. In summary, conservative medical management with the use of chest tubes for these 98 children with empyema resulted in a mortality rate of 1.0%, and should be considered as an effective alternative to the surgical management of patients presenting with this complication.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Randomized intervention study comparing several regimens for the treatment of moderate anemia among refugee children in Kigoma Region, Tanzania.

Anemia-specific mortality was markedly elevated among refugee children < 5 years of age in Tanzania. In a randomized, double-blind study, 215 anemic children were initially treated for malaria and helminth infection and then received 12 weeks of thrice-weekly oral iron and folic acid. Group I received placebo and chloroquine treatment for symptomatic malaria infection (i.e., no presumptive anti-malarial treatment given). Group II received placebo and monthly presumptive treatment with sulfamethoxazole-pyrimethamine (SP). Group III also received monthly SP and thrice-weekly vitamins A and C (VAC). Mean hemoglobin concentration increased from 6.6 to 10.2 g/dL, with no significant differences among groups. Group II had lower mean serum transferrin receptor levels (TfR) than group I [P = 0.023]. A greater proportion of participants in group III had normal iron stores (TfR < 8.5 microg/ mL) than in group II [P = 0.012]. Initial helminth and malaria treatment, followed by thrice-weekly iron and folic acid supplements resulted in increased hemoglobin levels. Monthly SP and thrice-weekly VAC contributed to improve iron stores. Monthly SP may have a role in situations where asymptomatic disease is prevalent or where access to care is limited. Because administration of VAC also hastened recovery of iron stores over administration of monthly SP alone, health care personnel could add VAC to the treatment for moderate anemia if maximum recovery of iron stores is desired.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗