Autism is unlikely to be caused by a single obstetric factor. The increased prevalence of obstetric complications among autism cases is most likely due to the underlying genetic factors or an interaction of these factors with the environment.

Aim:  Children account for approximately half of the humanitarian refugees currently resettled in Australia. A multidisciplinary refugee health clinic (RHC) was established at the tertiary paediatric hospital in Western Australia to address burgeoning referrals of refugee children following voluntary post‐resettlement health assessment. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of common conditions in resettled paediatric refugees attending a tertiary multidisciplinary RHC. Methods:  Standardised clinical and demographic data were routinely collected during first visit clinical assessment at the RHC. Descriptive analyses of the first 1026 children are presented. Results:  One thousand twenty‐six refugee children from 475 families and over 30 different ethnicities were described. Nine hundred twenty‐seven (90.4%) children were referred following post‐resettlement health assessment. Median age was 7.8 years. Common reasons for referral were: vitamin D deficiency (400, 39%), iron deficiency (226, 22%), positive Helicobacter pylori serology (206, 21%), poor appetite (175, 17.1%), and schistosomiasis (170, 16.6%). Comorbidities identified by the RHC included tinea capitis and corporis (297, 28.9%), and dental disease (228, 22.2%). Two‐thirds of children (680, 66.3%) had at least one abnormal finding on clinical examination that identified pathologies that were not evident from the history. Three hundred eighty children (37%) were referred to sub‐specialty services. Conclusions:  A multidisciplinary paediatric RHC facilitated and strengthened the management of refugee children with multiple and complex health needs. Evidenced–based culturally appropriate methods to identify developmental delay, psychological morbidity and quantify social needs of this vulnerable population remain uncertain. These findings are relevant to the continuing evolution of paediatric refugee health care in Australia and other high income countries.

Providing appropriate and responsive care to refugees from diverse backgrounds and with unique health needs is challenging. Refugee children may present with a wide range of conditions, which may be unfamiliar to health professionals in developed countries. Additionally, refugees may experience unfamiliarity with the Australian health system and distrust of authority figures and/or medical practitioners. This article provides an overview of the priority areas in health and health management for paediatric refugee patients for paediatricians as well as other relevant health care providers caring for this group. Specific issues covered include general health assessment, infectious diseases, immunization, growth and nutrition, oral health, development and disability, mental health and child protection. Comprehensive health assessment can assist in identifying children at risk of poor health and to provide them with timely and effective care, advocacy and appropriate referral.

Hospital utilization is significantly reduced for children with complex care needs through 24/7 care coordination.