Title: Enhanced medical assessment strategy for Barawan Somali refugees -- Kenya, 1997.

POPLINE Document Number: 137277

Author(s):

Gonzaga S
Keane V
Gushulak B
Boyd H

Source citation:

MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT, 1998 Jan 9;46(52-53):1250-4.

Abstract:

Implementation of an enhanced refugee medical assessment strategy among Barawan Somali refugees in Kenya, in 1997, revealed prevalences of malaria and intestinal parasites high enough to warrant pre-embarkment treatment. Refugee medical assessments generally focus only on inadmissible conditions (e.g., infectious tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS). About 4000 Barawan Somali refugees had been encamped since 1992 near Mombasa, Kenya. Included in the analysis were 390 of these refugees, assessed July 7-17, 1997, before departure to the US. 26 refugees (7%) were positive for malaria. This prevalence is considered an underestimate, however, because of extensive use among refugees with fever of presumptive antimalarial therapy. All 19 refugees treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) were malaria-negative by day 7 after therapy. Of the 331 stool specimens available, 129 (39%) were positive for one or more pathogenic intestinal parasites, predominantly Trichuris trichiura. These refugees (with the exception of pregnant women) were treated with single-dose albendazole. The Centers for Disease Control has recommended continuation of mass pre-embarkment therapy (the day before departure) for malaria and parasitic diseases for all departing refugees with no contraindications to treatment. Expansion of screening to include malaria and parasitic diseases has the potential to curb transmission in the resettlement communities.

Keywords:

Kenya
Somalia
United States
Research Report
Surveys
CDC
Refugees
Settlement and Resettlement
Migration Policy
Malaria
Parasitic Diseases
Screening
Treatment
Prevalence
Developing Countries
Africa, Eastern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Sampling Studies
Studies
Research Methodology
USPHS
Government Agencies
Organizations
Migrants
Migration
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Population Policy
Social Policy
Policy
Diseases
Examinations and Diagnoses
Measurement