Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
Volume 36, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 368-374

Migration and determinants of health: Clinical epidemiological characteristics of migrants in Malta (2010-11) (Review) (Open Access)

Padovese V.* , Egidi A.M. , Fenech T.M. , Connor M.P. , Didero D. , Costanzo G. , Mirisola C.
  • a National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy
  • b National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy
  • c Department of Health Promotion and Diseases Prevention, Ministry of Health, Elderly and Community Care, Msida, Malta
  • d Department of Primary Health, Migrant Health Unit, Valletta, Malta
  • e National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy
  • f National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy
  • g National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy

Abstract

Background: Over recent years Malta has experienced a growing influx of migrants from Africa. With the aim of defining demographic characteristics and assessing the prevalence of conditions of public health significance among asylum seekers in Malta, a clinical research study was implemented in the framework of the European Union project 'Mare nostrum'. Methods: From August 2010 to June 2011 a dermatologist and an infectious diseases specialist performed general and specialist health assessment of migrants hosted in open centres. Results: Migrants included in the study were 2216, 82.7% were males, their mean age was 25 years and 70.1% were from Somalia. Out of the total females, 42.5% had undergone some type of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. A total of 5077 diagnoses were set, most common were skin diseases (21.9%), respiratory diseases (19.8%) and gastro-enteric diseases (14.2%), whereas 31% of migrants reported good health conditions. Conclusions: Immigrants have a lower morbidity burden compared with their fellow countrymen living in the origin country. However, living conditions during the journey, in transit countries and after arrival can influence their health status. The present study provides a comprehensive picture of this growing population that is in need for health promotion, mental health services and fair policy planning. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Malta Migrants health Public health Epidemiology

Index Keywords

human epidemiology middle aged statistics and numerical data social determinants of health health status ethnology Young Adult Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool newborn Retrospective Studies adult migration Somalia Malta Transients and Migrants retrospective study Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84942303869&doi=10.1093%2fpubmed%2ffdt111&partnerID=40&md5=c6885459bbf44c73a553443a5f24511a
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdt111
ISSN: 17413842
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English