<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0003_s_434_w2aab3b8c33b1b7b1aab1c15b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Italy is the main recipient of asylum seekers in the European region, and Sicily is their first point of arrival. This geographical position creates a large job for Health Authorities to identify and deal with the health of immigrants. This study evaluates the prevalence of disease among asylum seekers, assessing which are associated factors.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0003_s_436_w2aab3b8c33b1b7b1aab1c15b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyse demographic and clinical data in an Acceptance Centres for Asylum Seekers from February 2012 to May 2013. All variables that were found to be significant on unvariable analysis for the most frequent pathologies were included in a multivariable logistic regression model.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0003_s_437_w2aab3b8c33b1b7b1aab1c15b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Post-traumatic stress disorders with 17.4% and major depression with 7.3% were the most frequent diseases. The factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorders among asylum seekers were: major depression diagnosis (OR=2.91, p=0.004), Pakistan as a country of origin (OR=3.88, p &lt;0.001), the largest number of medical visits (OR=1.02, p=0.033) and refugee status (OR=1.97, p=0.036). The variables linked with the diagnosis of major depression from the multivariable analysis were: suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders (OR=3.83, p &lt;0.001), Pakistan as a country of origin (OR=3.45, p=0.004) and the highest number of visits to psychologist (OR=1.15, p &lt;0.001).</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0003_s_439_w2aab3b8c33b1b7b1aab1c15b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The mental wellbeing of asylum seekers needs special attention, and interventions should be done to prevent the consolidation of psychiatric morbidity. A short psychological screening after the arrival might prove helpful here. Moreover, carefully designed longitudinal studies should be carried out when political recommendations try to change the organization of psychological and healthcare services.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionItaly is the main recipient of asylum seekers in the European region, and Sicily is their first point of arrival. This geographical position creates a large job for Health Authorities to identify and deal with the health of immigrants. This study evaluates the prevalence of disease among asylum seekers, assessing which are associated factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to analyse demographic and clinical data in an Acceptance Centres for Asylum Seekers from February 2012 to May 2013. All variables that were found to be significant on unvariable analysis for the most frequent pathologies were included in a multivariable logistic regression model.ResultsPost-traumatic stress disorders with 17.4% and major depression with 7.3% were the most frequent diseases. The factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorders among asylum seekers were: major depression diagnosis (OR=2.91, p=0.004), Pakistan as a country of origin (OR=3.88, p <0.001), the largest number of medical visits (OR=1.02, p=0.033) and refugee status (OR=1.97, p=0.036). The variables linked with the diagnosis of major depression from the multivariable analysis were: suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders (OR=3.83, p <0.001), Pakistan as a country of origin (OR=3.45, p=0.004) and the highest number of visits to psychologist (OR=1.15, p <0.001).ConclusionsThe mental wellbeing of asylum seekers needs special attention, and interventions should be done to prevent the consolidation of psychiatric morbidity. A short psychological screening after the arrival might prove helpful here. Moreover, carefully designed longitudinal studies should be carried out when political recommendations try to change the organization of psychological and healthcare services.

The Occurrence of Diseases and Related Factors in a Center for Asylum Seekers in Italy

University of Palermo, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G. D’Alessandro”, Via del Vespro 133, Palermo 90127,

Department Mother-Child, ASP Trapani, Ospedale “B.Nagar” - Piazzale N. Almanza, 21 - Pantelleria (TP) 91017,

University of Palermo, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, Via del Vespro 129, Palermo 90127,

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

POJAV BOLEZNI IN Z NJIMI POVEZANIH DEJAVNIKOV V CENTRU ZA PROSILCE ZA AZIL V ITALIJI

IntroductionItaly is the main recipient of asylum seekers in the European region, and Sicily is their first point of arrival. This geographical position...

The Occurrence of Diseases and Related Factors in a Center for Asylum Seekers in Italy

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 21 - 28

Received: Mar 16, 2015

Accepted: Aug 10, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0003

Keywords
mental health, primary care, preventive medicine, depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, epidemiology

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Occurrence of Diseases and Related Factors in a Center for Asylum Seekers in Italy

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 21 - 28

Received: Mar 16, 2015

Accepted: Aug 10, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0003

Keywordsmental health, primary care, preventive medicine, depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, epidemiology

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
mental health, primary care, preventive medicine, depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, epidemiology