Refugee Health, Screening, and Data Collection in the Triangle of North Carolina: What We Know, What We Need to Know & Opportunities Moving Forward

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  • April 29, 2022
Creator
  • Hereford, Courtney
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health
Abstract
  • Roughly 80,000 refugee individuals from over 65 distinct countries have resettled to the United States every year since 1975. Refugees endure unique health concerns and confront complex challenges to accessing quality health care upon arrival in the country. They demonstrate disproportionately high rates of communicable disease of public health significance including hepatitis B, HIV, parasitic, malaria and tuberculosis infections. Accordingly, the US Government mandates refugee health services that target screening, data collection, surveillance and follow-up care for infectious illness and disease. Nevertheless, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)-such as hypertension, diabetes and behavioral/mental illness-arise as the leading cause of death nationally and globally. Approximately 50% of adult refugees and 30% of child refugees within the US display at least one noncommunicable disease; yet NCDs are neither systematically tracked nor adequately provided for within local and national health care systems. In the near future, unmet chronic health needs will likely surpass the infectious disease burden found in refugee populations resettling to the US, presenting a mounting priority with pervasive implications for American health and economy. Though composing a relatively small proportion of the population, approximately 1000 refugees from 40 countries resettle to the Triangle region of North Carolina every year, and arrival rates continue to expand rapidly.14 North Carolina's immigrant population has grown over 500% since 1980, with a 700-1000% influx observed in major state hubs such as the Triangle.15-17 Rising concurrently among these highly vulnerable populations are noninfectious health disparities and unmet needs, though relevant data collection remains unsystematic in light of resource deficits at state and local levels. Without targeted tracking of health data among these refugee groups, the Triangle health community remains fundamentally unaware and unprepared to tackle the diversity of illness patterns prevalent as well as the distinct health needs, assets and barriers impacting quality health care access for refugees. This research assesses refugee health and surveillance in the Triangle through a SWOT analysis and advocates for systematic screening, data collection and surveillance of both infectious and chronic health needs. These priority steps are necessary to advance refugee health outcomes and provision in the Triangle.
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  • In Copyright
Note
  • Paper type: Review
Advisor
  • Green, Sherri
Degree
  • Master of Science in Public Health
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduation year
  • 2016
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  • 92f83f78-3c83-401e-a566-ad93d8742135

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