Pregnancy Related Health Care Needs in Refugees-A Current Three Center Experience in Europe.

Christian Dopfer,Annabelle Vakilzadeh,Frank Müller,Reinhold Schmidt,Evelyn Kleinert,Alexandra Jablonka,Sonja Merkesdal,Diana Ernst,Martin Wetzke,Georg Behrens,Christine Happle

doi:10.3390/ijerph15091934

Abstract

Background: Immigration into Europe has reached an all-time high. Provision of coordinated healthcare, especially to refugee women that are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, is a challenge for receiving health care systems. Methods: We assessed pregnancy rates and associated primary healthcare needs in three refugee cohorts in Northern Germany during the current crisis. Results: Out of n = 2911 refugees, 18.0% were women of reproductive age, and 9.1% of these were pregnant. Pregnancy was associated with a significant, 3.7-fold increase in primary health care utilization. Language barrier and cultural customs impeded healthcare to some refugee pregnant women. The most common complaints were demand for pregnancy checkup without specific symptoms (48.6%), followed by abdominal pain or urinary tract infections (in 11.4% of cases each). In 4.2% of pregnancies, severe complications such as syphilis or suicide attempts occurred. Discussion: We present data on pregnancy rates and pregnancy associated medical need in three current refugee cohorts upon arrival in Germany. Healthcare providers should be particularly aware of the requirements of pregnant migrants and should adapt primary caretaking strategies accordingly.

Highlights

Migration towards Europe is at an all-time high, and receiving countries are struggling with the task of coordinated and appropriate care provision [1]
In total n = 1533 refugees residing at a reception center in Celle, Northern Germany in Summer of 2015, n = 1220 refugees residing in 6 locations in Wolfsburg, Northern Germany in autumn 2015 and n = 158 refugees living in a reception center in Harsefeld, Northern Germany in winter and spring 2016 were included into the analysis
Medical care is key in management during humanitarian crises as the current, and especially for refugee woman, that are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, caretaking strategies need to be adapted [3,25,26]

Summary

Introduction

Migration towards Europe is at an all-time high, and receiving countries are struggling with the task of coordinated and appropriate care provision [1]. In this situation, medical care should be adapted to the specific requirements of migrants as they represent a population with increased risk for overall morbidity and mortality [2]. Especially to refugee women that are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, is a challenge for receiving health care systems. Methods: We assessed pregnancy rates and associated primary healthcare needs in three refugee cohorts in Northern Germany during the current crisis

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion