Medical conditions among Iraqi refugees in Jordan: data from the United Nations Refugee Assistance Information System

Medical conditions among Iraqi refugees in Jordan: data from the United Nations Refugee Assistance Information System

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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 Chair diseases, were actively monitored from 1January to 31December 2010 using a pilot centralized database in Jordan called the Refugee Assistance Information System.FINDINGS: 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, big boys hybrid shorts dentistry, gynaecology and orthopaedic surgery.CONCLUSION: 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.