Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 19, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 835-842

Syphilis Among U.S.-Bound Refugees, 2009–2013 (Article)

Nyangoma E.N.* , Olson C.K. , Painter J.A. , Posey D.L. , Stauffer W.M. , Naughton M. , Zhou W. , Kamb M. , Benoit S.R.
  • a Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • b Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • f Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • g Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • h Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • i Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

U.S. immigration regulations require clinical and serologic screening for syphilis for all U.S.-bound refugees 15 years of age and older. We reviewed syphilis screening results for all U.S.-bound refugees from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2013. We calculated age-adjusted prevalence by region and nationality and assessed factors associated with syphilis seropositivity using multivariable log binomial regression models. Among 233,446 refugees, we identified 874 syphilis cases (373 cases per 100,000 refugees). The highest overall age-adjusted prevalence rates of syphilis seropositivity were observed among refugees from Africa (1340 cases per 100,000), followed by East Asia and the Pacific (397 cases per 100,000). In most regions, male sex, increasing age, and living in non-refugee camp settings were associated with syphilis seropositivity. Future analysis of test results, stage of infection, and treatment delivery overseas is warranted in order to determine the extent of transmission risk and benefits of the screening program. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York (Outside USA).

Author Keywords

Sexually transmitted infections Immigration Refugee health Syphilis

Index Keywords

refugee mass screening sex ratio human epidemiology Refugees middle aged Asia statistics and numerical data Aged ethnology United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent male female risk factor Risk Factors Africa Syphilis prevalence adult Sex Distribution age distribution
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84961214658&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-016-0397-z&partnerID=40&md5=46a3fd9be10befdc5af7a8608acaf39d
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0397-z
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English