Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the range and burden of health services utilization among Iraqi refugees receiving health assistance in Jordan, a country of first asylum.
METHODS
Medical conditions, diagnosed in accordance with the tenth revision of the International classification of diseases, were actively monitored from 1 January to 31 December 2010 using a pilot centralized database in Jordan called the Refugee Assistance Information System.
FINDINGS
There were 27 166 medical visits by 7642 Iraqi refugees (mean age: 37.4 years; 49% male; 70% from Baghdad; 6% disabled; 3% with a history of torture). Chronic diseases were common, including essential hypertension (22% of refugees), visual disturbances (12%), joint disorders (11%) and type II diabetes mellitus (11%). The most common reasons for seeking acute care were upper respiratory tract infection (11%), supervision of normal pregnancy (4%) and urinary disorders (3%). The conditions requiring the highest number of visits per refugee were cerebrovascular disease (1.46 visits), senile cataract (1.46) and glaucoma (1.44). Sponsored care included 31 747 referrals or consultations to a specialty service, 18 432 drug dispensations, 2307 laboratory studies and 1090 X-rays. The specialties most commonly required were ophthalmology, dentistry, gynaecology and orthopaedic surgery.
CONCLUSION
Iraqi refugees in countries of first asylum and resettlement require targeted health services, health education and sustainable prevention and control strategies for predominantly chronic diseases.

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Authors

Mateen FJ, Carone M, Al-Saedy H, Nyce S, Ghosn J, Mutuerandu T, Black RE

Institution

Department of Neurology, Room 627 Pathology Building, Johns Hopkins Hospital, The Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. fmateen@jhsph.edu

Source

Bulletin of the World Health Organization 90:6 2012 Jun 1 pg 444-51

MeSH

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Chronic Disease
Emigrants and Immigrants
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Health Services Needs and Demand
Health Status
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Internationality
Iraq
Jordan
Male
Middle Aged
Population Surveillance
Public Health
Refugees
Social Work
United Nations
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22690034