Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 5, 2014, Pages 959-967

Nutritional Status of Refugee Children Entering DeKalb County, Georgia (Article)

Shah A.Y.* , Suchdev P.S. , Mitchell T. , Shetty S. , Warner C. , Oladele A. , Reines S.
  • a Children’s National Medical Center, W3.5-600, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20010, United States, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • b Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States, Nutrition Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, United States
  • f DeKalb County Board of Health, Decatur, GA, United States
  • g Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States, Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

This study determines the nutritional status among refugee children entering one of the largest resettlement counties in the United States and identifies differences between incoming populations. Medical records of all newly arriving pediatric refugees (0–18 years) entering DeKalb County, Georgia between October 2010 and July 2011 were reviewed. Refugee children were grouped as African, Bhutanese, or Burmese (resettling from either Thailand or Malaysia) for comparative analysis. Approximately one in five refugees were anemic or malnourished, while a quarter had stool parasites, and nearly half had dental caries. African refugees had the highest anemia but the lowest underweight prevalence (p < 0.05). Compared to Burmese resettling from Malaysia, Burmese children from Thailand had a higher prevalence of anemia, underweight, and stool parasites (p < 0.05). Clinicians should use CDC medical screening guidelines for newly arriving pediatric refugees, as well as ensure proper nutritional support and follow-up care. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Malnutrition dental caries Parasites Anemia Refugee

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84879584221&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9867-8&partnerID=40&md5=730dea33a0c23e31627a8c6f624b65f4
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9867-8
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English