Abstract
More than 63,000 Iraqi refugees were resettled in the United States from 1994 to 2010. We analyzed data for all US-bound Iraqi
refugees screened in International Organization for Migration clinics in Jordan during June 2007–September 2009 (n = 18,990),
to describe their health profile before arrival in the United States. Of 14,077 US-bound Iraqi refugees ≥15 years of age,
one had active TB, 251 had latent TB infection, and 14 had syphilis. No HIV infections were reported. Chronic diseases comorbidities
accounted for a large burden of disease in this population: 35% (n = 4,105) of screened Iraqi refugees had at least one of
three chronic medical conditions; hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or obesity. State health departments and clinicians who
screen refugees need to be aware of the high prevalence of chronic diseases among Iraqi refugees resettled in the United States.
These results will help public health specialists develop policies to reduce morbidity and mortality among US-bound Iraqi
refugees.
refugees screened in International Organization for Migration clinics in Jordan during June 2007–September 2009 (n = 18,990),
to describe their health profile before arrival in the United States. Of 14,077 US-bound Iraqi refugees ≥15 years of age,
one had active TB, 251 had latent TB infection, and 14 had syphilis. No HIV infections were reported. Chronic diseases comorbidities
accounted for a large burden of disease in this population: 35% (n = 4,105) of screened Iraqi refugees had at least one of
three chronic medical conditions; hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or obesity. State health departments and clinicians who
screen refugees need to be aware of the high prevalence of chronic diseases among Iraqi refugees resettled in the United States.
These results will help public health specialists develop policies to reduce morbidity and mortality among US-bound Iraqi
refugees.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9578-6
- Authors
- Emad A. Yanni, Division for Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E03, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
- Marwan Naoum, International Organization for Migration, Migration Health Assessment Center IOM, Amman, Jordan
- Nedal Odeh, International Organization for Migration, Migration Health Assessment Center IOM, Amman, Jordan
- Pauline Han, Division for Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E03, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
- Margaret Coleman, Division for Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E03, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
- Heather Burke, Division for Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E03, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912