Post-arrival health screening in Karen refugees in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To document the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies, infectious diseases and susceptibility to vaccine preventable diseases in Karen refugees in Australia. Design: Retrospective audit of pathology results. Setting: Community based cohort in Melbourne over the period July 2006-October 2009. Participants: 1136 Karen refugee children and adults, representing almost complete local area settlement and 48% of total Victorian Karen humanitarian intake for the time period. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of positive test results for refugee health screening, with breakdown by age group (<6 years, 6-11 years, 12-17 years, 18 years and older). Results: Overall prevalence figures were: ..