Medical conditions among Iraqi refugees in Jordan: data from the United Nations Refugee Assistance Information System.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the range and burden of health services utilization among Iraqi refugees receiving health assistance in Jordan, a country of first asylum.


METHODS
Medical conditions, diagnosed in accordance with the tenth revision of the International classification of diseases, were actively monitored from 1 January to 31 December 2010 using a pilot centralized database in Jordan called the Refugee Assistance Information System.


RESULTS
There were 27 166 medical visits by 7642 Iraqi refugees (mean age: 37.4 years; 49% male; 70% from Baghdad; 6% disabled; 3% with a history of torture). Chronic diseases were common, including essential hypertension (22% of refugees), visual disturbances (12%), joint disorders (11%) and type II diabetes mellitus (11%). The most common reasons for seeking acute care were upper respiratory tract infection (11%), supervision of normal pregnancy (4%) and urinary disorders (3%). The conditions requiring the highest number of visits per refugee were cerebrovascular disease (1.46 visits), senile cataract (1.46) and glaucoma (1.44). Sponsored care included 31 747 referrals or consultations to a specialty service, 18 432 drug dispensations, 2307 laboratory studies and 1090 X-rays. The specialties most commonly required were ophthalmology, dentistry, gynaecology and orthopaedic surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Iraqi refugees in countries of first asylum and resettlement require targeted health services, health education and sustainable prevention and control strategies for predominantly chronic diseases.
Department of Neurology, Room 627 Pathology Building, Johns Hopkins Hospital, The Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. fmateen@jhsph.edu
Farrah J
FJ
Mateen
Marco
M
Carone
Huda
H
Al-Saedy
Sayre
S
Nyce
Jad
J
Ghosn
Timothy
T
Mutuerandu
Robert E
RE
Black
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D038622:Internationality; D007493:Iraq / Q000208:ethnology; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012947:Social Work / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014480:United Nations; D055815:Young Adult