Danish Medical Journal
Volume 61, Issue 9, 2014

Undocumented migrants have diverse health problems (Article)

Ehmsen B.K. , Biswas D. , Jensen N.K. , Krasnik A. , Norredam M.*
  • a Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • b Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • d Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • e Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Section for Immigrant Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In 2008, 1.9-3.8 million undocumented migrants lived in Europe. We aimed to strengthen the evidence base on undocumented migrants' health problems by describing characteristics of undocumented migrant patients in a Danish non-governmental organisation (NGO) health clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patient files from the period from 24 August 2011 to 28 January 2013 were included in the study. Patient contacts were systematically analysed for age, sex, country of origin, medical referrals, symptoms and diagnoses. Contacts were classified by patient complaints or symptoms based on the International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd Edition (ICPC-2). RESULTS: A total of 830 patients (39.75% women and 60.25% men) visited the clinic, which led to a total of 2,088 visits and 1,384 ICPC-2 classifications. The patients seen had 94 different nationalities. The most common reasons for medical contact correspond well with the pattern seen in general practice and several chronic and severe cases were observed in the NGO clinic. Furthermore, a larger share of pregnant women presented (11.6%) compared with a Danish general practice (5.1%), and these were seen first in a late gestational age on average (16+ weeks). CONCLUSION: Undocumented migrants presented with diverse health problems. Some patients presented with critical disease, and an alarming number of pregnant women did not seek medical care until a late stage, and they did not return for infant care after giving birth.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Needs Assessment minority health prenatal care human middle aged Denmark statistics and numerical data health status Aged organization Dental Health Services dental procedure Young Adult Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male preschool child Aged, 80 and over Infant very elderly Child, Preschool newborn female pregnancy adult migration utilization patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants Organizations primary health care Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906862140&partnerID=40&md5=e4efc28846a78f7e8f633a50b6c593a5
ISSN: 22451919
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English