TY - JOUR

T1 - Health screening among children newly granted asylum in Denmark

AU - Frederiksen, Nicoline Willum

AU - Christoffersen, Nanna Marie

AU - Haugaard, Anna Karen

AU - Ahmadi, Afsaneh

AU - Poulsen, Anja

AU - Norredam, Marie

AU - Kruse, Alexandra

N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©2021 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Aim: To describe the findings and recommendations of the general health assessment (GHA) of newly resettled refugee children in Denmark. Methods: This cross-sectional study included children (aged <18 years) undergoing GHA from 2017 to 2019 at a university hospital Section of Immigrant Medicine. GHA was offered to all refugees newly resettled in the Municipality of Copenhagen. It comprised of a structured questionnaire, clinical examination, blood test and recommendations. Results: In the study period, 107 children were eligible, 100 children had a GHA performed and of whom all were included in the study. Trauma was reported in 61% (n = 61/100) of children. The median duration of the asylum-seeking process was 18 months (IQR: 8-24), and the highest number of relocations was nine. Latent tuberculosis (n = 2/100 [2%]) was the only infectious disease diagnosed. Specific recommendations for follow-up were frequent and included referral to specialist departments (n = 26/100 [26%]), suggestions for family doctor (n = 96/100 [96%]) and for municipality (n = 62/100 [62%]). Conclusion: Self-reported trauma was frequent among 100 newly resettled refugee children. For most children, the asylum process was protracted and included several relocations. Specific follow-up recommendations were given to the vast majority. GHA may contribute to improving health, which could possibly support integration for the child and family.

AB - Aim: To describe the findings and recommendations of the general health assessment (GHA) of newly resettled refugee children in Denmark. Methods: This cross-sectional study included children (aged <18 years) undergoing GHA from 2017 to 2019 at a university hospital Section of Immigrant Medicine. GHA was offered to all refugees newly resettled in the Municipality of Copenhagen. It comprised of a structured questionnaire, clinical examination, blood test and recommendations. Results: In the study period, 107 children were eligible, 100 children had a GHA performed and of whom all were included in the study. Trauma was reported in 61% (n = 61/100) of children. The median duration of the asylum-seeking process was 18 months (IQR: 8-24), and the highest number of relocations was nine. Latent tuberculosis (n = 2/100 [2%]) was the only infectious disease diagnosed. Specific recommendations for follow-up were frequent and included referral to specialist departments (n = 26/100 [26%]), suggestions for family doctor (n = 96/100 [96%]) and for municipality (n = 62/100 [62%]). Conclusion: Self-reported trauma was frequent among 100 newly resettled refugee children. For most children, the asylum process was protracted and included several relocations. Specific follow-up recommendations were given to the vast majority. GHA may contribute to improving health, which could possibly support integration for the child and family.

KW - Denmark

KW - general health assessment

KW - recommendations

KW - refugee children

KW - trauma

U2 - 10.1111/apa.15879

DO - 10.1111/apa.15879

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33866596

AN - SCOPUS:85109416514

VL - 110

SP - 2389

EP - 2395

JO - Acta Paediatrica

JF - Acta Paediatrica

SN - 0803-5253

IS - 8

ER -