RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Medical needs of adolescent refugees resettling in Western Australia
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 880
OP 883
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2018-315105
VO 104
IS 9
A1 Kajal Hirani
A1 Donald N Payne
A1 Raewyn Mutch
A1 Sarah Cherian
YR 2019
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/104/9/880.abstract
AB Objective To investigate the medical needs and socioeconomic determinants of health among adolescent refugees resettling in Western Australia.Design Comprehensive medical and socioeconomic health data of resettling adolescent refugees aged 12 years and above attending a Refugee Health Service over a 1-year period were analysed.Results Medical records of 122 adolescents, median (range) age of 14 (12–17) years, were reviewed. Socioeconomic vulnerabilities included dependence on government financial support (50%), housing issues (27%) and child protection service involvement (11%). Medical concerns included non-communicable disorders (85%), infectious diseases (81%), nutrition/growth (71%) and physical symptoms of non-organic origin (43%). One quarter (27%) of female adolescents had sexual/reproductive health issues. A median (range) of 5 (2–12) health concerns were identified for each adolescent with 49% requiring referral to subspecialty services.Conclusion Resettling adolescent refugees are socioeconomically vulnerable with a range of medical issues that frequently require additional subspecialty health referrals.