title: Health profile of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel: an overview.
abstract: The health profile of two groups of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel was evaluated. Trichophytosis and active trachoma were observed in 5%-8.7% of prepubertal children. Among adults 13% had corneal opacities and 10.4% had cataracts. Goiter, spastic bronchitis, valvular heart disease, leprosy and onchocerciasis were prevalent. Malnutrition was common, with average body weights ranging from 72.4% to 85.2% of normal. Anemia was observed in 6.3% of young children and 70% of all immigrants. Fifty percent of children over 12 years and 98% of adults over 40 years of age had been exposed to hepatitis B virus; 9.8%-11.8% were HBsAg carriers. Tuberculin tests were positive in 9.8%-13%; and intestinal parasites were identified in 86%-98%. Hospitalization was required for 15.7% of immigrants arriving during the period 1978-90, and for 3.7% of those arriving in mid-1991 (Operation Solomon).
authors.affiliation: Zevulun Clinic, Kupat Holim, Kiryat Motzkin, Israel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nahmias
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hornstein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bilgury
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kutner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004813:Epidemiology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male