Paediatrics and Child Health (Canada)
Volume 20, Issue 8, 2015, Pages e38-e42

Health and growth status of immigrant and refugee children in Toronto, Ontario: A retrospective chart review (Review) (Open Access)

Salehi L.* , Lofters A.K. , Hoffmann S.M. , Polsky J.Y. , Rouleau K.D.
  • a St Michael's Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, NY, United States
  • b St Michael's Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St Michael's Hospital, Canada, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • c East End Community Health Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • d Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e St Michael's Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To describe selected anthropometric and health status variables among immigrant and refugee children .6 years of age within an inner city clinic in Toronto, Ontario. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008, was conducted at a Toronto community health centre serving a primarily immigrant and refugee population. Outcome measures included calculated age-specific percentiles for height and weight, and the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, enteric parasites, elevated lead levels, HIV and hepatitis B. Postal codes were collected and used to determine the patient'fs neighbourhood income quintile. Results : A total of 331 patients, born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008, were identified. Of these, a total of 210 charts were manually reviewed. The prevalence of height-for-age and weight-for-age under the third percentile on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts were 7.2% and 11.6%, respectively, and 8.4% and 5.0%, respectively, on the WHO Growth Standards Chart. Prevalence rates were also calculated for anemia (22.8%), iron deficiency (53.3%), hepatitis B (2.5%), parasitic infections (33.6%), elevated blood lead levels (4.9%) and HIV (0%). Neighbourhood income quintiles revealed that 46.7% of patients were residing in the lowest (ie, poorest) income quintile neighbourhoods. Conclusion: These findings reveal a high burden of illness within the population presenting to an immigrant/refugee health clinic, and illustrate the need for further research in this area, as well as increased efforts to ensure appropriate screening within clinics serving a high volume of newcomer patients. © 2015 Pulsus Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

immigrants Health child Refugees Canada Emigrants

Index Keywords

medical record review Strongyloidiasis Giardia intestinalis Strongyloides stercoralis immigrant Afghanistan Africa south of the Sahara refugee Enterobius vermicularis Human immunodeficiency virus infection human giardiasis health status Colombia enterobiasis Human immunodeficiency virus child growth income Ascaris lumbricoides anemia Ascariasis cognitive development male Canada lead female iron deficiency Infant lead blood level Cyclospora cayetanensis Review cyclosporiasis dientamoebiasis Myanmar Dientamoeba Hymenolepis nana prevalence hymenolepiasis major clinical study body weight growth curve outcome assessment anthropometry retrospective study hepatitis B body height Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84957637934&doi=10.1093%2fpch%2f20.8.e38&partnerID=40&md5=1f7efbeb8186029f015e3f290f6ada90
DOI: 10.1093/pch/20.8.e38
ISSN: 12057088
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English