Tropical Medicine and International Health
Volume 21, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 210-218

Health status and disease burden of unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents in Bielefeld, Germany: cross-sectional pilot study (Article) (Open Access)

Marquardt L. , Krämer A.* , Fischer F. , Prüfer-Krämer L.
  • a Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
  • b Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
  • c Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
  • d Travel Clinic, Bielefeld, Germany

Abstract

Objective: This exploratory pilot study aimed to investigate the physical and mental disease burden of unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents arriving in Bielefeld, a medium-size city in Germany. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with purposive sampling of 102 unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents aged 12–18 years was performed. Information on general health status, selected infectious and non-communicable diseases, iron deficiency anaemia and mental illness was collected during routine check-up medical examinations upon arrival in Bielefeld, Germany. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The analysis revealed a complex disease burden with a high prevalence of infections (58.8%), mental illness (13.7%) and iron deficiency anaemia (17.6%) and a very low prevalence of non-communicable diseases (<2.0%). One in five of the refugees were infected with parasites. Whilst sub-Saharan Africans showed the highest prevalence of infections (86.7%), including highest prevalences of parasites (46.7%), West Asians had the highest prevalence of mental disorders (20.0%). Overall, the disease burden in females was higher. Conclusion: A thorough medical and psychological screening after arrival is highly recommended to reduce the individual disease burden and the risk of infection for others. This promotes good physical and mental health, which is needed for successful integration into the receiving society. Barriers to health service access for unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents need to be lowered to allow need-specific health care and prevention. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Author Keywords

unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents infections in refugees Immigrant health Mental health Refugee minors Physical health

Index Keywords

Germany parasitosis Africa south of the Sahara refugee Sub-Saharan Africa Bielefeld iron deficiency anemia sampling medical examination age class mental health human Health Behavior health status African North Rhine-Westphalia parasite mental disease asylum seeker prescription infectivity cross-sectional study anemia Adolescent male female pilot study adolescence prevalence Article disease prevalence West Asia major clinical study adult iron nutritional status health hazard non communicable disease Child health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84983187995&doi=10.1111%2ftmi.12649&partnerID=40&md5=01a98553f327743c124977021058eaea
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12649
ISSN: 13602276
Cited by: 42
Original Language: English