Louise Biddle|Natalja Menold|Martina Bentner|Stefan Nöst|Rosa Jahn|Suzanne Ziegler|Kayvan Bozorgmehr
Health monitoring among asylum seekers and refugees: a state-wide, cross-sectional, population-based study in Germany
Heidelberg University|University Hospital Heidelberg|TU Dresden|Heidelberg University|University Hospital Heidelberg|Heidelberg University|University Hospital Heidelberg|Heidelberg University|University Hospital Heidelberg|Heidelberg University|University Hospital Heidelberg|Heidelberg University|University Hospital Heidelberg
health monitoring germany falls short generating timely reliable representative data among migrants especially transient marginalized groups asylum seekers refugees asr aim advance current health monitoring approaches obtain reliable estimates health status access essential healthcare services among asr germanys third largest federal state badenwrttembergwe conducted statewide crosssectional populationbased health monitoring survey nine languages among asr children collective accommodation centres 44 districts questionnaire items capturing health status access care sociodemographic variables taken established surveys translated using team approach random sampling level 1938 accommodation centres 70634 asr employed draw balanced sample 65 centres net sample 1 states asr population multilingual field teams recruited eligible participants using doortodoor approach parents completed additional questionnaire behalf childrenthe final sample comprised 58 centres 1843 asr total sample expected eligible n 987 417 n 412 participated survey overall 157 households children received childrens questionnaire 61 n 95 returned age sex nationality included sample comparable total population asylum applicants germany adults reported longstanding limitations 16 badvery bad general health 19 pain 25 chronic illness 40 depression 46 anxiety 45 52 utilised primary 37 specialist care services previous 12 months reporting unmet needs primary 31 specialist care 32 younger male participants aboveaverage health status belowaverage utilisation compared older female asrour health monitoring survey yielded reliable estimates health status health care access among asr revealing relevant morbidities patterns care applying rigorous epidemiological methods linguistically diverse transient marginalized populations challenging feasible integration approach state nationwide health monitoring strategies needed order sustain approach health planning tool