Asylum Seeker Centres Research Articles

Susceptibility to measles in migrant population: implication for policy makers.

Despite a large measles outbreak is taking place in WHO European region, currently no data are available on measles immunization coverage in the asylum seeker and migrants hosted in this area. Two hundred and fifty-six migrants upon their arrival in Italy on March, April and May 2016 were screened for measles virus IgG antibodies by chemiluminescence immunoassay (Liaison XL analyzer, Diasorin, Italy). The virus susceptibility in this cohort, the differences between the official country reported and the observed measles immunization coverage and the impact of current measles outbreak on the asylum seekers hosted in the largest Asylum Seeker centres of Italy, were evaluated. The prevalence of subjects with positive result for measles IgG antibodies ranged between 79.9% and 100%. In Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the measles IgG seroprevalence observed was greater than the vaccinal coverage reported by WHO after I dose of vaccine. Based on data regarding the II dose coverage, the ASs population presented a seroprevalence greater to that expected. On the basis of the results obtained, extraordinary screening and vaccination campaigns in the migrant population, especially in the course of large outbreaks, could represent a resource to reach an adequate measles immunization coverage and to control this infectious disease.

Interpreting and linguistic inclusion – friends or foes? results from a field study

ABSTRACT The article responds to the existing political claims that translation and interpreting reduce the incentive of recent immigrants to learn the language(s) of the host country and thereby impede their integration. To verify these claims, quantitative and qualitative research was conducted among asylum seekers in Slovenia, i.e. a group of recent immigrants who have access to free interpreting and translation services and free courses in the dominant language of the host country. A questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data on the language profiles of 127 current and former residents of the asylum seeker centres in Slovenia, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted with a representative group of 38 asylum seekers. The results show that all surveyed migrants had a positive attitude towards the host country language and that all of the interviewed migrants who had been in the host country for 7 months or more, regardless of their educational attainment, also took the state-funded course of the host country language. Additionally, although the provision of translation and interpreting is recognised as essential in high-risk situations, it is not the preferred communication strategy of the migrants, and therefore does not hinder their functional linguistic inclusion.

An outbreak of chickenpox in an asylum seeker centre in Italy: outbreak investigation and validity of reported chickenpox history, December 2015-May 2016.

An outbreak of chickenpox occurred between December 2015 and May 2016 among asylum seekers in a reception centre in Latium, Italy. We describe the epidemiological and laboratory investigations, control measures and validity of reported history of chickenpox infection. Serological screening of all residents and incoming asylum seekers was performed, followed by vaccine offer to all susceptible individuals without contraindication. Forty-six cases were found and 41 were associated with the outbreak. No complications, hospitalisations or deaths occurred. Serological testing was performed in 1,278 individuals and 169 were found to be susceptible, with a seroprevalence of 86.8%. A questionnaire was administered to 336 individuals consecutively attending the CARA health post to collect their serological result. The sensitivity, specificity and the positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of the reported history of chickenpox were 45.0%, 76.1%, 88.3% and 25.6%, respectively. We observed an increasing trend for the PPV and decreasing trend for the NPV with increasing age. Our report confirms that, in the asylum seeker population, chickenpox history is not the optimal method to identify susceptible individuals. Our experience supports the need for additional prevention and control measures and highlights the importance of national and local surveillance systems for reception centres.

Corpus Analysis: Pragmatic Conclusions

This paper derives from a comprehensive study of the communication of a community of speakers of other languages living in an asylum seeker centre. The specific focus is on the corpus-based investigation of 48,000 words of lingua franca English transcribed from recordings of interaction between residents of the centre and native-English speaking staff and amongst the residents themselves over a 3 year period. The study is unique in the sense that the speakers are not EFL students, English is not the lingua franca of choice, and the speakers are ‘inmates’ in a ‘total institution’. The basic core spoken vocabulary of the community was gauged by identifying the point in a computer-based frequency count at which frequency dropped off sharply. The presence of broad categories of basic spoken vocabulary was also calibrated. The results, which bear evidence of a vastly limited language system, especially as far as lexis is concerned, raise questions with regard to the interactional achievement of the asylum seekers in transaction and negotiation with native speakers of English. The answer to these questions was provided by the identification of key words in frequency lists and the analysis of the pragmatic function of these words in the detail of the immediacy of talk-in-interaction.

Unexpected agency on the threshold: Asylum seekers narrating from an asylum seeker centre.

Several studies have described the condition of asylum seekers as being on the threshold or in-between structures. Victor Turner’s concept of liminality and Agamben’s state of exception have been used extensively to analyse this condition, mostly to show the negative implications of the ambiguous legal (non-) status. This article argues that the condition of liminality provides an intensified doubleness of impossibility and possibility for action, which casts a different light on conceptualizing agency. Without disregarding the downside of this liminal, in-between condition, the article shows that the lack of ‘normalized’ connectedness to the new structure combined with physical distance from the past structure, enables reflection and feeds the power of imagination. This can lead to alternative (yet conditional) forms of agency, such as delayed agency and agency from marginal positions. Through the narratives of asylum seekers living in Dutch asylum seeker centres, the article shows the potential of transforming non-places, such as asylum seeker centres, into those in which existential meanings can emerge (even if partial). Considering these sources of agency has great implications for the short-term well-being of asylum seekers and the long-term inclusion of refugees in their countries of residence.

Geo-helminthiasis among migrants in Sicily: a possible focus for re-emerging neurocysticercosis in Europe.

A dramatic increasing immigration flow was recorded in Europe during the last years. Only in Sicily 120,239 people arrived in 2014. Immigrants may carry neglected tropical diseases endemic in their origin countries. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of geo-helminthiasis, and in particular of intestinal taeniasis, in a sample of migrants hosted in a large asylum seeker centre in the province of Catania. A stool sample was obtained from all the enrolled subjects and a coproparasitological examination was performed. Out of the 274 enrolled subjects (249 men; mean age 26.4±6.2), 30 (11%) carried at least one helminthic infestation. Ancylostomatidae, Trichuris trichiura and Taenia species (spp) were the most common, the latter found in 6 (2.16%) subjects. T. solium carriers can represent a focus of infection for the more complex neurocysticercosis. Even if coproparasitological examination did not allow us to differentiate Taenia spp, we cannot exclude the presence of T. solium carriers among these subjects. Further studies, including coproantigen ELISA to detect Taenia spp, should be carried out in larger samples to better estimate the real burden of T. solium carriers.

Attitudes toward Asylum Seekers in Small Local Communities

AbstractThe admission and geographic distribution of asylum seekers has a central place in public discourse in Western countries, amid mounting asylum applications and dire humanitarian crises. Receiving countries usually distribute the newly arriving asylum seekers across the entire country, in particular for small remote communities. Incidental opposition actions by local residents against the siting of Asylum Seeker Centres (ASC) has created the perception of strong and widespread resistance in the public sphere. This article aims to assess this alleged backlash by examining attitudes toward asylum seekers in small local communities. Using data from three representative surveys conducted among residents in the vicinity of four ASCs in the Netherlands, the regression analysis shows a strikingly high willingness to host an ASC, in opposition to popularly assumed public opinion.

The Normality and Materiality of the Dominant Discourse: Voluntary Work Inside a Dutch Asylum Seeker Center

ABSTRACTThis article explores the narratives of the volunteers working inside Dutch asylum seeker centers (AZCs). The objective was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of these volunteers, who face contradictory processes: being engaged to improve the condition of asylum seekers in the context of growing antimigrant/antirefugee sentiment in The Netherlands, dominant exclusionary discourse, and the difficult material conditions in AZCs. The analysis of these narratives shows that in spite of some conflicting emotions, a specific form of agency (through the combination of idealistic convictions and pragmatic strategies of change) enabled these volunteers to remain optimistic in their work.

P84 National hiv testing week 3: finding the hard to reach and building on success: Abstract P84 Table 1

<h3>Background/introduction</h3> The third National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) was in November 2014. <h3>Aims</h3> To build on our previous success of testing the most-at-risk populations (MARP), focusing on outreach. <h3>Methods</h3> A third sector organisation, primarily targeting gay communities, provided club and bar outreach and offered point-of-care testing (POCT) on-site and at 2 saunas. A second third sector organisation, targeting African communities, offered POCT at 6 venues, including local markets, an asylum-seeker centre, pharmacies, health centres and an African football match. CASH services offered POCT at 3 clinics across the city. GUM and Leeds City Council staff volunteered to provide outreach and testing support for the 12 different testing sites across the city. <h3>Results</h3> 167 people tested (126 in 2013, 94 in 2012). 71% were from MARPs, unchanged from 2013. 1 female black African and 1 MSM tested HIV+ve, the first HIV diagnoses resulting directly from NHTW initiatives in our city. 74% of people who tested were sensitised through community outreach. Over 90% of people tested were given advice on PEP, repeat testing, STI screening and offered condoms. <h3>Discussion</h3> Two undiagnosed HIV+ve people were identified as a result of NHTW efforts, and both are now in HIV care. A greater population, including those from MARPs tested. Of the MARPs, a higher percentage were testing for the first time. This may reflect decreased overall testing in MARPs, or that our NHTW 2014 campaign was more successful at reaching and testing people who are less likely to attend more traditional testing sites.

Jihadi networks and the involvement of vulnerable immigrants: reconsidering the ideological and pragmatic value

Research has shown that irregular migrants were disproportionally present in jihadi networks in the Netherlands between 2001 and 2005. Building on this study, by analysing files of closed criminal investigations and interviewing imams and personnel within asylum seeker centres and detention centres, this article explains the attractiveness of jihadi networks by a combination of pragmatic and ideological factors. The studied cases demonstrate how jihadi networks are able to satisfy certain needs of these irregular immigrants in a pragmatic way and how criminal activities play an important role in this process. They also show how jihadi networks can fill a void for some of these irregular migrants who are in search for meaning and identity. The Jihadi–Salafi ideology does not seem to be the core pull factor explaining the attractiveness of the jihadi networks in this study.

Frequent relocations between asylum-seeker centres are associated with mental distress in asylum-seeking children: a longitudinal medical record study

There are concerns about negative effects of relocations between asylum-seeker centres on the mental health of asylum-seeking children. However, empirical evidence comes from cross-sectional studies only. In this longitudinal medical record study, we aimed to assess: (i) whether relocations during the asylum process are associated with the incidence of newly recorded mental distress in asylum-seeking children; and (ii) whether this association is stronger among vulnerable children. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records database of the Community Health Services for Asylum Seekers in The Netherlands (study period: 1 January 2000-31 December 2008). Included were 8047 children aged 4 to 17 years. Case attribution was done using International Classification of Primary Care codes for mental, behavioural or psychosocial problems. The association between annual relocation rate and incidence of mental distress was measured using relative risks (RR) estimated with multivariate Cox regression models. A high annual relocation rate (>1 relocation/year) was associated with increased incidence of mental distress [RR = 2.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.30-3.17]. The relative risk associated with a high annual relocation rate was larger in children who had experienced violence (RR = 3.87; 95% CI 2.79-5.37) and in children whose mothers had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or depression (RR = 3.40; 95% CI 2.50-4.63). The risk of mental distress was greater in asylum-seeking children who had undergone a high annual relocation rate. This risk increase was stronger in vulnerable children. These findings contribute to the appeal for policies that minimize the relocation of asylum seekers.

Prevalence of Carriers ofNeisseria meningitidisAmong Migrants: Is Migration Changing the Pattern of Circulating Meningococci?

To evaluate the prevalence of carriers of Neisseria meningitidis and circulating serogroups, 253 African refugee residents in the Asylum Seeker Center of Bari, Italy, were enrolled. Thirteen subjects (5.1%) were identified as carriers of meningococci. Six (46.1%) strains were autoagglutinable, four (30.8%) belonged to serogroup W135, and three (23.1%) to serogroup Y.

Prevalence of HPV Infection and Genotype Distribution in Women From Africa Seeking Asylum in Puglia, Italy

HPV type-specific distribution was evaluated in genital samples collected from 151 women from West Africa and Horn of Africa, living in the Asylum Seeker Center in Bari Palese (Italy), undergoing voluntary screening correlated with cytological abnormalities. HPV-DNA was assayed by Linear Array HPV genotyping test. HPV DNA was detected in 39.1 % of the women, 42.5 % of which had multiple infection and 69.5 % had high-risk HPV infection. Age-prevalence rates evidenced a peak of HPV infection in women ≤ 20 years of age (53.1 %). HPV 53 and 16 were the most common viral types (13.5 and 12.0 % respectively). Abnormal Pap test results were found in 4.4 % of women with known cytological result. Although a prevalence of HPV positive women higher in African than in European women was expected, the differing rate between residents and migrants African women must be investigated in future studies.

Access to primary health care services by community‐based asylum seekers

To determine whether community-based asylum seekers experience difficulty in gaining access to primary health care services, and to determine the impact of any difficulties described. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews between September and November 2010. Participants were community-based asylum seekers who attended the Asylum Seekers Centre of New South Wales, and health care practitioners and staff from the Asylum Seekers Centre and the NSW Refugee Health Service. We interviewed 12 asylum seekers, three nurses, one general practitioner and one manager. Asylum seekers' responses revealed that their access to primary health care was limited by a range of barriers including Medicare ineligibility, health care costs and the effects of social, financial and psychological stress. Limited access contributed to physical suffering and stress in affected asylum seekers. Participants providing care noted some improvement in access after recent government policy changes. However, they noted inadequate access to general practitioners, and dental, mental health and maternity care, and had difficulty negotiating pro-bono services. Both groups commented on the low availability of interpreters. Access to primary health care in Australia for community-based asylum seekers remains limited, and this has a negative effect on their physical and mental health. Further action is needed to improve the affordability of health care and to increase the provision of support services to community-based asylum seekers; extending Medicare eligibility would be one way of achieving this.

Cases of community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an asylum seekers centre in Germany, November 2010

In an asylum seeker centre in Schleswig-Holstein, a resident was diagnosed with furuncle caused by a Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL)-positive community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). As a result of active case finding, 232 of 427 persons (54% of all residents) were screened for MRSA and two further PVL-positive CA-MRSA cases were identified

Poliomyelitis in Southern Italy

Certainly, Asian and African refugees who lacked protective antibody to one or more poliovirus types in the Asylum Seeker Center in Bari 1were offered poliovirus vaccines. Investigations would also be needed to identify poliovirus‐seronegative natives in …

Prevalence of Hepatitis B, C, HIV and syphilis markers among refugees in Bari, Italy

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) serological markers and the prevalence of VDRL positive subjects in a population of refugees of various nationalities, living in the Asylum Seeker Centre in Bari Palese, Southern Italy.MethodsThe study was carried out in the period May-July 2008 and recruited only voluntarily enrolled healthy refugees. HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and anti-HIV virus antibodies were detected. VDRL syphilis screening was also carried out on the serum samples.ResultsA total of 529 refugees, 442 males and 87 females, aged between 7 and 52 years, were studied. Of these, 510 were from Africa and 19 from Asia.Forty-four individuals (8.3%) were HBsAg positive and 241 (45.6%) were anti-HBc positive. A total of 24 (4.5%) individuals were anti-HCV positive. Eight asylum seekers (1.5%) were HIV positive. VDRL tests were performed on 269 subjects and 4 (1.5%) were positive. 12.3% of the study population had serological markers of chronic and transmissible infections with potential blood-borne or sexual transmission.ConclusionsIn Italy, a suitable protocol is necessary for the early diagnosis of infectious diseases on entering Asylum Centres, so allowing the adoption of prevention measures to safeguard the health of the individuals, the residents and workers in the Centres and the general population.

Mortality and causes of death among asylum seekers in the Netherlands, 2002–2005

BackgroundThe world's growing population of asylum seekers faces different health risks from the populations of their host countries because of risk factors before and after migration. There is a current...

High Level Immunity Against Poliomyelitis in African and Asian Refugees in Southern Italy: Table 1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of poliomyelitis immunization in refugees residing in the Asylum Seeker Center in Bari. The study was carried out during 2008 and involved 573 refugees. An antibody titer >or=1:8 was found in 99.6% for poliovirus 1, in 99.8% for poliovirus 2, and in 99.5% for poliovirus 3.

S04-01 Telepsychiatry - when resources are short

“Telepsychiatry” refers to video conferencing (interactive audio-video link in real-time where patient and doctor can both see and hear each other at the same time). Limited access to clinicians that have similar cultural and ethnic background decrease speed and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment (especially psychotherapeutic intervention). One solution to this problem is to give refugees, migrants and asylum seekers access to ethnic specialists by using Telepsychiatry.4 stations have been established in Denmark during pilot project in periode 2005-2007. The equipment has been installed in two hospitals, one asylum seekers centre and one social rehabilitation institution.Participants were mentally ill refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. 61 participants were involved in the assessment and/or treatment through 318 telepsychiatry provided remote consultations. They received mental health care by video-conferencing from providers who spoke participants ‘own language, i.e. without the assistance of interpreters.All participants were asked to fulfil 10-items satisfaction questionnaire after the end of Telepsychiatry contact. The most of participants would prefer treatment via Telepsychiatry than via interpreter.Aside from cross cultural patient population, Telepsychiatry can be used in order to provide mental health care towards domestic population in rural and remote areas with resource shortage.