Quality of health care for refugees – a systematic review

Hahn, Karolin; Steinhäuser, Jost; Wilfling, Denise; Goetz, Katja

doi:10.1186/s12914-019-0205-7

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As residents of the facility had on-site general practitioners readily available, and all medical appointments and medication were free of charge, barriers to care were low. This may explain the high rate of health care utilisation compared to other studies [ 36 , 37 ]. Additionally, it should be considered that, in contrast to other countries, specially trained nurse practitioners who provide independently consultations are not common in the health care system in Germany.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Disease burden in a large cohort of asylum seekers and refugees in Germany

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Currently, health care systems worldwide are challenged with providing care to an increasing number of migrants, refugees, and displaced persons. In this article, we report on disease burden and drug prescription patterns in a large refugee cohort in Germany. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of anonymized medical records including demographic data, diagnoses, and drug prescriptions in two refugee reception centres between 2015 and 2019. Refugees and migrants received medical assistance exclusively through the on-site clinics. Thus, this study represents all medical visits of the housed residents. Results In total, n = 15531 diagnoses from n = 4858 patients in a cohort of n = 10431 accommodated refugees were recorded. N = 11898 medications were prescribed. Overall, 29.8% of all refugees sought medical attention. Half of the patients were female (49.6%), the average age was 23.8 years (SD [standard deviation] 17.0, min 0, max 81), and 41.5% were minors (<18 years). Most patients had Middle Eastern or Northern African origin (63.9%). The largest proportion of diagnoses belonged to the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) category “R” (miscellaneous, 33.5%), followed by diseases of the respiratory system (category “J”, 16.5%), or the musculoskeletal system (category “M”, 7.1%). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were most frequently prescribed. Conclusions This analysis in two large refugee centres in Germany shows that about one third of refugees seek medical attention upon initial arrival. Complaints are manifold, with a high prevalence of respiratory infections.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Disease burden in a large cohort of asylum seekers and refugees in Germany

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…According to guidance from the WHO Europe Region [ 3 ], evaluating health system readiness to respond to such a crisis involves assessing the explicit consideration of this population in government planning for the health sector. Ensuring the provision of primary health care with adequately-trained staff, efficient use of resources, and procedures for screening, case finding, and triage of patients should be explicit [ 43 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uptake of Health Care Services by Refugees: Modelling a Country Response to a Western Balkan Refugee Crisis

Santric-Milicevic

Vasić

et al. 2020

Healthcare

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Planning and adjusting health capacities to meet the needs of refugees is a constant issue for transit and destination countries following the 2015/2016 Western Balkans refugee crisis. Understanding this crisis is important for taking the right steps in the future. The study informs about the prediction of the refugees’ health needs and demands for services in correspondence to political decision-making during 2015/2016 Western Balkan Refugee Crisis. Time series analysis, linear regression, and correlation analyses modelled the weekly flux of arrivals of more than half a million refugees to Serbia and the European Union, changes in the utilization of health care services, and disease diagnoses. With strategic planning, in the event of a recurrence of the refugee crises, the demand for health care services in the transit country could increase by 63 (95% CI: 21–105) for every additional 1000 refugees.

show abstract

“…e interview guide focused on the current refugee health care situation and experiences of refugees with health care. A team consisting of a social scientist and health care professionals developed the interview guide based on a systematic review, personal experiences, and the aims of the study [24]. For refugees, the interview guide for the focus groups included the following questions:…”

Section: Data Collection Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Equity in Health Care: A Qualitative Study with Refugees, Health Care Professionals, and Administrators in One Region in Germany

Hahn

Steinhäuser

Goetz

2020

BioMed Research International

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction. Equity in health is an essential issue and it would appear that it is not guaranteed for all human beings, especially refugee groups. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the experiences of refugees, health care professionals, and administrators of refugee health care in a host country. Methods. The study used qualitative methods which consisted of a convenience sample of stakeholders directly and indirectly involved in care for refugees and refugees themselves. The study participants were located in a rural area in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 25 participants. A semistructured interview guideline was used for the focus groups and interviews. The data were evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Results. Four main categories were identified which are important for equity in health care: legal aspects, sociocultural aspects, environmental aspects, and communication aspects. Legal frameworks and language barriers were perceived as strong barriers for accessing health care. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the host countries should address the specific needs of this population group at a systemic and individual level. Based on the views of the participants interviewed it can be concluded that the refugee population group is particularly affected by limited access to health care services. Bureaucratic barriers, unfamiliarity with a new health system, and language issues all contribute to limiting access to health care services.

show abstract

Quality of health care for refugees – a systematic review

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Disease burden in a large cohort of asylum seekers and refugees in Germany

Disease burden in a large cohort of asylum seekers and refugees in Germany

Uptake of Health Care Services by Refugees: Modelling a Country Response to a Western Balkan Refugee Crisis

Equity in Health Care: A Qualitative Study with Refugees, Health Care Professionals, and Administrators in One Region in Germany

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About