Determining Physical and Mental Health Conditions Present in Refugees Age 0-59 Years Arriving in Utah

Determining and Health Present in Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of physical and mental health conditions identified for newly arrived refugees in Utah. Methods: The Utah Refugee Health Screener is a standardized form used to screen all refugees resettled in Utah. Prevalence was calculated for mental and physical health conditions. Comparisons were made by age, sex, and geographic region. Results: Between 2012 and 2017, 6,842 refugees (ages 0-59 years) were resettled in Utah and included in this analysis. The prevalence of mental health findings was higher for adults than children (36.9% vs 18.0%). Among adults, women had higher prevalence of mental health findings than men (Prevalence Ratio (PR) of 1.3-1.9), while refugees from the Middle East had consistently higher prevalence than those from other regions. Similarly, the prevalence of physical health findings was generally higher for adults than children (66.2% vs 41.5%). Differences between men and women were most notable for the categories of pulmonology (PR=3.6 for men vs women), endocrinology (PR=2.0 for women vs men), and neurology (PR=2.0 for women vs men). Conclusions: Adult refugees have higher prevalence of both mental and physical health findings on screening exam. Screening identifies conditions that are largely treatable. However, these conditions typically don’t resolve without treatment and if left untreated, result in increased morbidity and mortality. The initial domestic screening is an opportunity to connect refugees with appropriate treatment to address health concerns, thus facilitating their ability to successfully engage in other resettlement activities, such as work and school.