Evidence Aid Bulletin: 4 July 2022
Here is Evidence Aid’s July 2022 bulletin, containing shortened versions of four of our recent summaries relevant to the health of refugees and asylum seekers. Please forward this to others who might be interested. Anyone who would like to receive these bulletins directly should contact Mark Gavin (info@evidenceaid.org) and questions about our work can be sent to Claire Allen (callen@evidenceaid.org).
Oral health among migrants in Europe. Citation: Pabbla A, et al. Oral Health Status, Oral Health Behaviours and Oral Health Care Utilisation Among Migrants Residing in Europe: A Systematic Review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2020;23(2):373-88.
Information about migrant’s oral health and their use of relevant healthcare services might be helpful to policy makers, practitioners, and the public. This review included 69 studies that were published between 2000 and 2019. It found that dental caries was more common among migrant children than host country children and that oral cancer was more common among South Asian communities than host populations and other migrant groups. Migrants generally demonstrated poorer oral health behaviour than host populations and used emergency dental services more but preventative services less. The authors of the review concluded that there is a need for oral health preventive strategies for migrants in Europe and that a culturally sensitive approach is required when dealing with migrants’ oral health issues and when planning preventive programs and providing dental treatments for them. (Full summary available in our Health of Refugees and Asylum Seekers collection.)
Mental health care needs, access and use among refugees and asylum seekers in Europe. Citation: Satinsky E, et al. Mental health care utilisation and access among refugees and asylum seekers in Europe: a systematic review. Health Policy. 2019;123(9):851-63.
This review included 26 studies, from 18 countries of mental health disorders and access to and use of mental health and psychosocial support services by refugees and asylum seekers in Europe. The findings might be helpful to policy makers and practitioners trying to meet these needs. It found that refugees and asylum seekers are at higher risk of mental health disorders than host populations, but that they substantially under-use mental health services. Barriers in accessing care include language, lack of awareness of mental health disorders and services, negative attitude towards healthcare workers and stigma. (Full summary available in our Health of Refugees and Asylum Seekers collection.)
Migrants’ use of emergency departments in Europe. Citation: Credé SH, et al. International migrants’ use of emergency departments in Europe compared with non-migrants’ use: a systematic review. European Journal of Public Health. 2018;28(1):61-73.
Emergency health services are likely to be an important point of access to health care for migrants in Europe and elsewhere. This review of 22 studies from England, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Spain and Switzerland found that migrants used emergency departments more than non-migrants, in particular during unsocial hours and for low acuity presentations. The authors of the review concluded that a greater understanding of the healthcare needs of migrants and how they use emergency health services would help to ensure that healthcare services are designed to meet these needs.(Full summary available in our Health of Refugees and Asylum Seekers collection.)
Screening migrants for infectious diseases in Europe. Citation: Seedat F, et al. How effective are approaches to migrant screening for infectious diseases in Europe? A systematic review. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2018;18(9):e259-71.
Migrants are often screened for infectious disease when they arrive in a new country and reliable information on these policies might help people who are working with migrants or planning services for them. The 47 studies in this review were published before 2018 and covered screening programmes for, among other diseases, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, Chagas disease and toxoplasmosis. The studies showed that nearly 40% of the migrant population in Europe had been screened for an infectious disease and that screening for infectious diseases in most European countries is focused on refugees and asylum seekers and single diseases, mainly TB. Any infection was detected in 3.74% of migrants. The included evidence suggests moderate to high cost-effectiveness of screening programmes, depending on the migrant group and disease targeted, with screening programmes for TB and hepatitis B or C being most cost-effective when used for migrants from high-incidence countries. (Full summary available in our Health of Refugees and Asylum Seekers collection.)