BMJ Open
Volume 4, Issue 12, 2014

Access to medicines by child refugees in the east midlands region of england: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Alkahtani S. , Cherrill J. , Millward C. , Grayson K. , Hilliam R. , Sammons H. , Choonara I.*
  • a Academic Division of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom
  • b Academic Division of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom
  • c Department of Clinical Psychology, Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom
  • d Refugee Action, Leicester, United Kingdom
  • e Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
  • f Academic Division of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom
  • g Academic Division of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom

Abstract

Objectives: To explore access to primary healthcare and drug therapy by refugee children in the East Midlands region of England. Design: Interviews with refugees with children and a control group of British parents with children. Setting: East Midlands region of England. Participants: 50 refugees with children and a control group of 50 parents with children. Main outcome measures: Number of medicines used by children in the last month and the past 6 months. Health of parents and children. Registration with a general practitioner (GP). Results: All families in both groups were registered with a GP. There was no difference in the number of children in the two groups experiencing illnesses .In the last month, 30 refugee children received 60 medicines and 31 control children 63 medicines. In the past 6 months, 48 refugee children received 108 medicines and 43 control children 96 medicines. There was no difference between the two groups of children in relation to the likelihood of receiving any medicines in either the last month (P=0.839) or the past 6 months (p=0.81). Children in the refugee group were more likely to receive prescribed medicines for the last month (p=0.008) and the past 6 months ( p<0.001). They were also less likely to receive over the counter (OTC) medicines in the past 6 months (p=0.009). Conclusions: The refugee children in this study in the East Midlands had access to primary healthcare, medicines and a family doctor. They were more likely to receive prescribed medicines and less likely to receive OTC medicines, especially paracetamol.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Parents refugee public health service human Refugees middle aged Ethnic Groups antibiotic agent ethnic group controlled study health status lactulose general practitioner antitussive agent prescription drug Prescription Drugs Cross-Sectional Studies interview Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans parent male England preschool child female Child, Preschool clinical article vitamin Physicians, Family Article non prescription drug adult health care access United Kingdom family assessment ibuprofen pharmaceutical care Nonprescription Drugs clinical medicine Acetaminophen analgesic agent paracetamol Health Services Accessibility primary health care antipyretic agent health care delivery Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84920742484&doi=10.1136%2fbmjopen-2014-006421&partnerID=40&md5=e6740ff6f21c4f5efb3765fd17479537
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006421
ISSN: 20446055
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English