Morbidity pattern among refugees in Eastern Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT

The population of refugees in eastern Africa and the health problems affecting them are enormous. This study was conducted to document the morbidity pattern among refugees in eastern Ethiopia. The study was conducted to document the morbidity pattern among refugees in eastern Ethiopia. The study utilized a descriptive cross sectional design. Data were collected using a uniform format from all refugee camps in the eastern Ethiopia. Respiratory tract infection and diarrhoeal diseases were identified to be the major causes of morbidity, accounting for 31.8% and 27.3% respectively in children under five years, and for 34.9% and 8.5% respectively in the other age groups. The findings were consistent with other studies done in refugee populations elsewhere. Universality of the problems was noted and a coordinated multidisciplinary approach is recommended to alleviate the health problems of refugees.

ABSTRACT

PIP In eastern Ethiopia, 1992 and 1993 health records from all 8 health units serving the refugees in refugee camps along Somali border were reviewed in a study of the morbidity pattern among the refugees. The information was to be used to plan refugee health services. 156,050 of the people visiting the health units were at least 5 years old, and 139,267 were less than 5 years old (the under-5 group). The overall annual morbidity rate stood at 798/1000. 15% of all refugees in these camps were less than 5 years old. Refugees under 5 years old were more likely to visit the health units in 1 year than older refugees (5 vs. 1-2). Diseases did not discriminate by sex. All age groups were vulnerable to diseases. The leading causes of illness for the under-5 group and the older refugees were respiratory diseases and diarrheal diseases (31.8% and 27.3% for under-5s and 34.9% and 8.5% for older refugees, respectively). Other conditions prevalent in both age-groups were malnutrition, injury, eye infection, and intestinal parasitic infestation. These findings were similar to those of other studies examining refugee populations elsewhere. A coordinated and multidisciplinary effort is needed to address these health problems of the refugee population.