Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 17-18/2012

01.09.2012 | original article

Acute health problems in African refugees

Ten years’ experience in a Swiss emergency department

verfasst von: Carmen A. Pfortmueller, Fabienne Graf, Malek Tabarra, Gregor Lindner, Heinz Zimmermann, Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos, M.D. F.C.E.M.

Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift | Ausgabe 17-18/2012

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Summary

Background

Over the last two decades, the total number of applications from Africans for asylum in the countries of the European Union has increased from 578,000 to more than 2.9 million. About 20 % (7,196/36,100) of the asylum seekers in Switzerland originate from Africa. The disease profile of African asylum seekers is remarkably different from that of the native population in the country of application. We have therefore conducted an analysis of African asylum seekers presenting themselves to our emergency department.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis, the central patient registry database was searched for patients originating from Africa admitted from 1 January 2000 to 30 November 2011 and labelled as “Asylbewerber” (asylum seeker) or “Flüchtling” (refugee).

Results

Three thousand six hundred and seventy-five African asylum seekers were admitted to our emergency department between 2000 and 2010. Thirty-four percent (n = 1,247) were female and 66 % (n = 2,426) male. Eighty percent (n = 1,940) of the men and 70 % (n = 823) of the women were younger than 40 years. Most of our patients originated from Algeria (n = 612). Forty-five percent (n = 1,628) of all patients presented with internal medical problems, 40 % (n = 1,487) with injuries. 3.5 % (n = 130) of all patients presented with psychiatric problems. Admission for psychiatric problems increased steadily from 2 % (n = 4) in 2001 to 10 % (n = 35) in 2011.

Conclusion

The causes of presentation are manifold, including internal medical problems and injuries. Admissions for psychiatric problems are increasing. Establishing simple screening scores for somatization should be a key priority in providing more focused treatment in emergency departments.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 2009. Global Trends: refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees, internally displaced and stateless persons. Country Data Sheets 2010. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 2009. Global Trends: refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees, internally displaced and stateless persons. Country Data Sheets 2010.
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Hatton TJ. Seeking asylum in Europe. In: Economic Policy April 2004, editor. Great Britain: Australian National University and University of Essex; 2004. pp. 5–62. Hatton TJ. Seeking asylum in Europe. In: Economic Policy April 2004, editor. Great Britain: Australian National University and University of Essex; 2004. pp. 5–62.
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Baeriswyl B. Statistik zu afrikanischen Asylsuchenden. In: Migration Bf, editor. Bern; 2011. Baeriswyl B. Statistik zu afrikanischen Asylsuchenden. In: Migration Bf, editor. Bern; 2011.
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Maier T, Schmidt M, Mueller J. Mental health and healthcare utilization in adult asylum seekers. Swiss Med Wkly. 2010;140:w13110. Maier T, Schmidt M, Mueller J. Mental health and healthcare utilization in adult asylum seekers. Swiss Med Wkly. 2010;140:w13110.
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Harris MF, Telfer BL. The health needs of asylum seekers living in the community. Med J Aust. 2001;175(11–12):589–592.PubMed Harris MF, Telfer BL. The health needs of asylum seekers living in the community. Med J Aust. 2001;175(11–12):589–592.PubMed
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Bischoff A, Denhaerynck K, Schneider M, Battegay E. The cost of war and the cost of healthcare—an epidemiological study of asylum seekers. Swiss Med Wkly. 2011;141:w13252. Bischoff A, Denhaerynck K, Schneider M, Battegay E. The cost of war and the cost of healthcare—an epidemiological study of asylum seekers. Swiss Med Wkly. 2011;141:w13252.
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Laban CJ, Komproe IH, Gernaat HB, de Jong JT. The impact of a long asylum procedure on quality of life, disability and physical health in Iraqi asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008;43(7):507–515.PubMedCrossRef Laban CJ, Komproe IH, Gernaat HB, de Jong JT. The impact of a long asylum procedure on quality of life, disability and physical health in Iraqi asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008;43(7):507–515.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Gerritsen AA, Bramsen I, Deville W, et al. Use of health care services by Afghan, Iranian, and Somali refugees and asylum seekers living in the Netherlands. Eur J Public Health. 2006;16(4):394–399.PubMedCrossRef Gerritsen AA, Bramsen I, Deville W, et al. Use of health care services by Afghan, Iranian, and Somali refugees and asylum seekers living in the Netherlands. Eur J Public Health. 2006;16(4):394–399.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Westermeyer JJ, Campbell R, Lien R, et al. HADStress: a somatic symptom screen for posttraumatic stress among Somali refugees. Psychiatr Serv (Washington, DC). 2010;61(11):1132–1137.PubMedCrossRef Westermeyer JJ, Campbell R, Lien R, et al. HADStress: a somatic symptom screen for posttraumatic stress among Somali refugees. Psychiatr Serv (Washington, DC). 2010;61(11):1132–1137.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Nickerson A, Steel Z, Bryant R, Brooks R, Silove D. Change in visa status amongst Mandaean refugees: relationship to psychological symptoms and living difficulties. Psychiatry Res. 2011;187(1–2):267–274.PubMedCrossRef Nickerson A, Steel Z, Bryant R, Brooks R, Silove D. Change in visa status amongst Mandaean refugees: relationship to psychological symptoms and living difficulties. Psychiatry Res. 2011;187(1–2):267–274.PubMedCrossRef
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Renner W, Salem I. Post-traumatic stress in asylum seekers and refugees from Chechnya, Afghanistan, and West Africa: gender differences in symptomatology and coping. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2009;55(2):99–108.PubMedCrossRef Renner W, Salem I. Post-traumatic stress in asylum seekers and refugees from Chechnya, Afghanistan, and West Africa: gender differences in symptomatology and coping. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2009;55(2):99–108.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Zurück zum Zitat O’Donnell CA, Higgins M, Chauhan R, Mullen K. "They think we’re OK and we know we’re not". A qualitative study of asylum seekers’ access, knowledge and views to health care in the UK. BMC Health Serv Res. 2007;7:75.PubMedCrossRef O’Donnell CA, Higgins M, Chauhan R, Mullen K. "They think we’re OK and we know we’re not". A qualitative study of asylum seekers’ access, knowledge and views to health care in the UK. BMC Health Serv Res. 2007;7:75.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Agyemang C, Goosen S, Anujuo K, Ogedegbe G. Relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and diabetes among 105,180 asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Eur J Public Health. 2011. Agyemang C, Goosen S, Anujuo K, Ogedegbe G. Relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and diabetes among 105,180 asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Eur J Public Health. 2011.
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Moret Joëlle BS, Efionayi-Mäder Denise. Somali refugees in Switzerland: strategies of exile and policy responses. Neuchâtel: Swiss Forum For Migration And Population Studies (SFM); 2006. Moret Joëlle BS, Efionayi-Mäder Denise. Somali refugees in Switzerland: strategies of exile and policy responses. Neuchâtel: Swiss Forum For Migration And Population Studies (SFM); 2006.
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Tiong AC, Patel MS, Gardiner J, et al. Health issues in newly arrived African refugees attending general practice clinics in Melbourne. Med J Aust. 2006;185(11–12):602–606.PubMed Tiong AC, Patel MS, Gardiner J, et al. Health issues in newly arrived African refugees attending general practice clinics in Melbourne. Med J Aust. 2006;185(11–12):602–606.PubMed
19.
Zurück zum Zitat Steel Z, Momartin S, Silove D, et al. Two year psychosocial and mental health outcomes for refugees subjected to restrictive or supportive immigration policies. Soc Sci Med. 2011;72(7):1149–1156.PubMedCrossRef Steel Z, Momartin S, Silove D, et al. Two year psychosocial and mental health outcomes for refugees subjected to restrictive or supportive immigration policies. Soc Sci Med. 2011;72(7):1149–1156.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Cooke R, Murray S, Carapetis J, et al. Demographics and utilisation of health services by paediatric refugees from East Africa: implications for service planning and provision. Aust Health Rev. 2004;27(2):40–45.PubMedCrossRef Cooke R, Murray S, Carapetis J, et al. Demographics and utilisation of health services by paediatric refugees from East Africa: implications for service planning and provision. Aust Health Rev. 2004;27(2):40–45.PubMedCrossRef
21.
Zurück zum Zitat O’Donnell CA, Higgins M, Chauhan R, Mullen K. Asylum seekers’ expectations of and trust in general practice: a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. 2008;58(557):e1–11.CrossRef O’Donnell CA, Higgins M, Chauhan R, Mullen K. Asylum seekers’ expectations of and trust in general practice: a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. 2008;58(557):e1–11.CrossRef
22.
Zurück zum Zitat DeShaw PJ. Use of the emergency department by Somali immigrants and refugees. Minn Med. 2006;89(8):42–45.PubMed DeShaw PJ. Use of the emergency department by Somali immigrants and refugees. Minn Med. 2006;89(8):42–45.PubMed
23.
Zurück zum Zitat Schubert CC, Punamaki RL. Mental health among torture survivors: cultural background, refugee status and gender. Nord J Psychiatry. 2011;65(3):175–182.PubMedCrossRef Schubert CC, Punamaki RL. Mental health among torture survivors: cultural background, refugee status and gender. Nord J Psychiatry. 2011;65(3):175–182.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Zurück zum Zitat Bentley JA, Thoburn JW, Stewart DG, Boynton LD. The indirect effect of somatic complaints on report of posttraumatic psychological symptomatology among Somali refugees. J Trauma Stress. 2011;24(4):479–482.PubMedCrossRef Bentley JA, Thoburn JW, Stewart DG, Boynton LD. The indirect effect of somatic complaints on report of posttraumatic psychological symptomatology among Somali refugees. J Trauma Stress. 2011;24(4):479–482.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Pavlish CL, Noor S, Brandt J. Somali immigrant women and the American health care system: discordant beliefs, divergent expectations, and silent worries. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(2):353–361.PubMedCrossRef Pavlish CL, Noor S, Brandt J. Somali immigrant women and the American health care system: discordant beliefs, divergent expectations, and silent worries. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(2):353–361.PubMedCrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Acute health problems in African refugees
Ten years’ experience in a Swiss emergency department
verfasst von
Carmen A. Pfortmueller
Fabienne Graf
Malek Tabarra
Gregor Lindner
Heinz Zimmermann
Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos, M.D. F.C.E.M.
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2012
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Ausgabe 17-18/2012
Print ISSN: 0043-5325
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0227-9

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 17-18/2012

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 17-18/2012 Zur Ausgabe

mitteilungen der gesellschaft

OeGIM-Homepage – Additivfächer

mitteilungen der gesellschaft der ärzte in Wien

Veranstaltungen