title: Migration and determinants of health: clinical epidemiological characteristics of migrants in Malta (2010-11).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over recent years Malta has experienced a growing influx of migrants from Africa. With the aim of defining demographic characteristics and assessing the prevalence of conditions of public health significance among asylum seekers in Malta, a clinical research study was implemented in the framework of the European Union project 'Mare nostrum'.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2010 to June 2011 a dermatologist and an infectious diseases specialist performed general and specialist health assessment of migrants hosted in open centres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Migrants included in the study were 2216, 82.7% were males, their mean age was 25 years and 70.1% were from Somalia. Out of the total females, 42.5% had undergone some type of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. A total of 5077 diagnoses were set, most common were skin diseases (21.9%), respiratory diseases (19.8%) and gastro-enteric diseases (14.2%), whereas 31% of migrants reported good health conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immigrants have a lower morbidity burden compared with their fellow countrymen living in the origin country. However, living conditions during the journey, in transit countries and after arrival can influence their health status. The present study provides a comprehensive picture of this growing population that is in need for health promotion, mental health services and fair policy planning.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeska
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Padovese
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ada Maristella
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Egidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Diseases Prevention, Ministry of Health, The Elderly and Community Care, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Melillo Fenech
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Health, Migrant Health Unit, Valletta, Malta.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podda Connor
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Didero
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mirisola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D064890:Social Determinants of Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Malta; epidemiology; migrants health; public health