Leila Salehi1, Aisha K Lofters2, Susan M Hoffmann3, Jane Y Polsky4, Katherine D Rouleau5. 1. St Michael's Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario;; Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA; 2. St Michael's Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario;; Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St Michael's Hospital;; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences; 3. East End Community Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario. 4. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto;; Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital; 5. St Michael's Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario;
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe selected anthropometric and health status variables among immigrant and refugee children ≤6 years of age within an inner city clinic in Toronto, Ontario. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008, was conducted at a Toronto community health centre serving a primarily immigrant and refugee population. Outcome measures included calculated age-specific percentiles for height and weight, and the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, enteric parasites, elevated lead levels, HIV and hepatitis B. Postal codes were collected and used to determine the patient's neighbourhood income quintile. RESULTS: A total of 331 patients, born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008, were identified. Of these, a total of 210 charts were manually reviewed. The prevalence of height-for-age and weight-for-age under the third percentile on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts were 7.2% and 11.6%, respectively, and 8.4% and 5.0%, respectively, on the WHO Growth Standards Chart. Prevalence rates were also calculated for anemia (22.8%), iron deficiency (53.3%), hepatitis B (2.5%), parasitic infections (33.6%), elevated blood lead levels (4.9%) and HIV (0%). Neighbourhood income quintiles revealed that 46.7% of patients were residing in the lowest (ie, poorest) income quintile neighbourhoods. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal a high burden of illness within the population presenting to an immigrant/refugee health clinic, and illustrate the need for further research in this area, as well as increased efforts to ensure appropriate screening within clinics serving a high volume of newcomer patients.
OBJECTIVE: To describe selected anthropometric and health status variables among immigrant and refugee children ≤6 years of age within an inner city clinic in Toronto, Ontario. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008, was conducted at a Toronto community health centre serving a primarily immigrant and refugee population. Outcome measures included calculated age-specific percentiles for height and weight, and the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, enteric parasites, elevated lead levels, HIV and hepatitis B. Postal codes were collected and used to determine the patient's neighbourhood income quintile. RESULTS: A total of 331 patients, born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008, were identified. Of these, a total of 210 charts were manually reviewed. The prevalence of height-for-age and weight-for-age under the third percentile on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts were 7.2% and 11.6%, respectively, and 8.4% and 5.0%, respectively, on the WHO Growth Standards Chart. Prevalence rates were also calculated for anemia (22.8%), iron deficiency (53.3%), hepatitis B (2.5%), parasitic infections (33.6%), elevated blood lead levels (4.9%) and HIV (0%). Neighbourhood income quintiles revealed that 46.7% of patients were residing in the lowest (ie, poorest) income quintile neighbourhoods. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal a high burden of illness within the population presenting to an immigrant/refugee health clinic, and illustrate the need for further research in this area, as well as increased efforts to ensure appropriate screening within clinics serving a high volume of newcomer patients.
Authors: Raewyn C Mutch; Sarah Cherian; Kuria Nemba; Janet S Geddes; David M Rutherford; Gervase M Chaney; David P Burgner Journal: J Paediatr Child Health Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 1.954
Authors: Teresa To; Astrid Guttmann; Paul T Dick; Jay D Rosenfield; Patricia C Parkin; Hongmei Cao; Tatiana N Vydykhan; Marjan Tassoudji; Jennifer K Harris Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2004 Jul-Aug
Authors: Waleed M Sweileh; Kolitha Wickramage; Kevin Pottie; Charles Hui; Bayard Roberts; Ansam F Sawalha; Saed H Zyoud Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-06-20 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Marsela Tanaka; Konstantinos Petsios; Stavroula K Dikalioti; Stavroula Poulopoulou; Vassiliki Matziou; Stamatios Theocharis; Ioanna D Pavlopoulou Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-05-23 Impact factor: 3.390