Results
Title

Screening and Primary Care Access for Newly Arrived Paediatric Refugees in Regional Australia: A 5 year Cross-sectional Analysis (2007-12).

Authors

Zwi, Karen; Morton, Nikola; Woodland, Lisa; Mallitt, Kylie-Ann; Palasanthiran, Pamela

Abstract

<bold>Aim: </bold>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of health conditions in newly arrived refugee children and access to timely heath screening. Methods: Cross-sectional data from screening of refugee children in regional Australia (2007-12) were analysed for health conditions and timeliness of primary care access. The health of 376 newly arrived refugee children (0-15 years) was assessed. Refugee children came from African (45%), Southeast Asian (29%) and Eastern Mediterranean (10%) regions. Access to primary care screening was present in 367 children (97% of arrivals). Completion of all recommended screening tests was 72%. Of 188 children with arrival and screening dates recorded, 88% were screened within 1 month and 96% within 6 months of arrival. Timely access of remaining children could not be assessed. Conclusion: Primary care was highly accessible to almost all newly arrived refugee children. Health screening was timely in those children with complete medical records.

Subjects

AUSTRALIA; PEDIATRICS; CROSS-sectional method; REFUGEE children; MEDICAL screening; HEALTH services accessibility; PRIMARY health care; PUBLIC health; REFUGEES

Publication

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 2017, Vol 63, Issue 2, p109

ISSN

0142-6338

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1093/tropej/fmw059