Challenges of Managing Skin Diseases in Refugees and Migrants

Dermatologic Care and Skin Health of Migrant Populations in the US: A Scoping Review

Importance

Despite literature on migrant skin health globally, there remains a critical gap in understanding the dermatologic care and skin health of migrants in the US, where immigrants represent 13.9% of the population.

Objective

To understand the spectrum of dermatologic conditions reported among US migrant populations, identify considerations for dermatologic care delivery, and synthesize the current literature on skin health.

Evidence Review

PubMed, Embase, and ClasePeriodica were searched for articles published from January 2000 to December 2022 using search terms related to dermatologic conditions and migrants. Original research articles, review articles, case reports, and case series that reported on dermatologic conditions affecting migrant populations within the US and US territories were included.

Findings

Of 87 articles included, cross-sectional studies accounted for 37 (42.5%), followed by case reports and case series (36 [41.4%]), qualitative studies (3 [3.4%]), and a mixed-methods study (1 [1.1%]). Articles discussed a range of dermatologic conditions: infections (45 [51.7%]), inflammatory conditions (33 [37.9%]), traumatic wounds (16 [18.4%]), neoplasms (10 [11.5%]), pigmentary disorders (10 [11.5%]), signs of torture/violence (4 [4.6%]), cosmetic (3 [3.4%]), hair/nail disorders (1 [1.1%]), and genodermatoses (1 [1.1%]). Of 65 articles (74.6%) reporting migrants' country of origin, Mexico was most frequently reported (28 [43.0%]), followed by Guatemala (14 [21.5%]), Vietnam (8 [12.3%]), and 38 other countries. Four themes were developed: (1) exposures before and during migration were risk factors for dermatologic conditions that presented at destination; (2) occupational and environmental exposures were risk factors for dermatologic conditions that developed at destination; (3) structural factors limited migrants' access to quality health care; and (4) educational interventions targeting different learner groups were opportunities to improve skin health of migrants.

Conclusions and Relevance

This scoping review found that exposures before, during, and after migration and health care access are associated with the skin health of US migrant populations. Research opportunities include focusing on a broad spectrum of dermatologic diseases, countries of birth, occupations, and vulnerable populations, such as women and children, as well as implementing and evaluating policy that addresses structural barriers migrants face in accessing quality health care.

Introducing Social Dermatology

Increasing evidence supports the idea that social determinants of health, e.g., educational attainment, employment, and community context, directly affect health status. Researchers are also beginning to explore the impact of social factors on skin diseases, though no formalized research field, to the authors' knowledge, provides a structured framework for such practice. In this article, the novel global research field of "Social Dermatology" is introduced to structure academic knowledge in dermatology. The aim is to outline how this paradigm shift could transform both clinical practice and scientific research. The field will explore subjects studied within the medical field of Social Medicine, adapting and applying them to the context of dermatology. Specifically the article will address the social determinants of health in dermatology, and elaborate on human functioning as an approach to a more comprehensive understanding of health in people with skin diseases. This approach enables the integration of rehabilitative aspects, with the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) guiding research and clinical practice to promote more equitable and patient-centred care. To address methodological and communicative opportunities it is suggested that a theoretical web-based social incubator be developed. A formal agreement on the values, interests, and challenges of this new field is needed for a sustainable research effort.

Monkeypox pandemic in Sudan, surveillance epidemiologic report, 2022

BACKGROUND

Mpox, is a zoonosis that is known to be endemic in several Central and West African countries. Recently, in 2022, it has emerged in Europe and United States, what raised the alarm to be declared in late June 2024 as a public health event of international concern. This study aimed to give insight about the recent spread of mpox in Sudan, and documents the epidemiologic situation.

METHODS

Through a cross-sectional design, Sudan mpox data was extracted from the disease surveillance line-list at the national level at Sudan Federal Ministry of Health. the data was customized and then analyzed using Epi Info7 software. Analysis was done using frequencies and percentages and the results presented in tables and figures. Permission and ethical approval were obtained from the Health Emergency and Epidemic Control Directorate at the Federal Ministry of Health.

RESULTS

The outbreak of mpox was confirmed after testing of initial specimens outside Sudan with positivity rate of 72%. Later the cases continued to be reported based on the clinical diagnosis and standard case definition. Out of 375 reported cases, 54.4% were males, while 45.6% were females. The age of cases ranged from one month to 78 years with majority (41.1%) of the cases were children under 5 years of age. Regarding the reported symptoms, all cases had the characteristic skin rash and 74.1% of them had fever. Other symptoms included, headache (31.5%), sore throat (30.9%) and lymphadenopathy (26.1%). For occupation, 35.7% were preschool and 10.4% were school children, 9% of cases were prisoners. Around 22 (5.8%) reported contact history with a confirmed case, while (5.6%) of the cases were imported cases. Cases were reported from 17 states with 42 affected localities (districts) with an overall attack rate of 2.36/ 100,000. The highest number of cases was reported from Gadaref (45.3%), West Darfur (25.9%), Khartoum (13.3%) and north Darfur (3.5%). In Gadaref, 146 (85.8%) of the cases were from a refugees' camp. Started in epi week 19, the outbreak peaked in week 38 and last in week 42.

CONCLUSION

Mpox was confirmed in the new Sudan for the first time with cases reported in most of states. Although importation of the virus is hypothesized, internal hidden circulation is possible and more in-depth investigation is highly recommended. The higher rate of infection among preschool, school children and refugees, highlights the need to strengthen the prevention and control measures in schools and camps. More focus on the data completeness is required for better understanding of the disease and can be ensured by the surveillance directorate through training of staff and updating of reporting forms. Strengthening the lab capacity inside the country is a necessity to ensure testing of all the clinically diagnosed cases.

Impact of war-associated factors on spread of sexually transmitted infections: a systemic review

Introduction

Statistical data indicate a link between war and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), then it is necessary to carefully analyze the factors that directly affect the identified pattern in order to overcome this problem. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to systematically analyze the factors that influence the spread of STIs during war.

Methods

The study included all original research articles and meta-analyses on the impact of war on the spread of sexually transmitted infections that met the following eligibility criteria: (1) articles published exclusively in English; (2) articles published in the period 2013-2023; (3) studies with quantitative, qualitative or mixed design. The search for relevant literature was conducted using four databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Ebsco.

Results

The articles selected for our systematic review had different research designs and were mainly published as original studies (n = 8) and literature reviews (n = 6). As a result of the evaluation of the selected articles for the systematic review, the authors identified migration, a decrease in access to health care, difficult access to contraception, sexual violence as the most frequent factors directly affecting the spread of STIs during the war.

Conclusion

This systematic review systematizes data on the impact of hostilities on the spread of STIs and outlines the main factors that contribute to the dissemination of pathogens far beyond the territory at the epicenter of the conflict.Systematic review registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023479808, CRD42023479808.

Dermatologic conditions of adult refugees following resettlement in the United States, 2015 to 2018

Background

There is a paucity of literature regarding dermatologic conditions in migrant and refugee populations.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of all adult refugees resettling in a region of Connecticut, U.S. from 7 January 2015 to 20 November 2018. We conducted a manual chart review to determine dermatologic conditions diagnosed during and within one year of resettlement. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with having any dermatologic condition.

Results

We included 545 refugees primarily from Afghanistan (40.6%), Syria (24.6%) and Iraq (10.5%), with a median (interquartile range) age of 33 (28-40) years. Of the 545 participants, 213 (39.1%) had dermatologic conditions. Fifty-four participants (25%) had more than one dermatologic condition and 114 (53.5%) were diagnosed within the first month of resettlement. The most common categories of conditions were cutaneous infections (24.9%), inflammatory conditions (11.1%), and scar or burn (10.7%). Tobacco use was associated with having a cutaneous infection (OR 2.37, 95%CI:1.09-4.95), and younger age was associated with having a scar or burn (for each year increase in age, OR 0.95, 95%CI:0.91-0.99).

Conclusion

Dermatologic conditions are common among adult refugees. The majority of conditions were diagnosed in the first month following resettlement suggesting that a high number of dermatologic conditions arise or go undetected and untreated during the migration process.

Health status assessment of a population of asylum seekers in Northern Italy

Background

Since 2011 Italy has faced an extraordinary increase in migrants arrivals, mainly from the Mediterranean route, one of the world’s most dangerous journeys. The purpose of the present article is to provide a comprehensive picture of the migrants' health status in the "T. Fenoglio" centre, Settimo Torinese (Turin, Italy).

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from June 2016 to May 2018 on adult migrants (over 18 years old) from Africa, Middle East and South East Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal). Data was collected through the migrants' medical records. Descriptive statistics were performed on socio-demographic variables. The diagnosed diseases were anonymously registered and classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2).

Conditional Inference Trees were used to perform a descriptive analysis of the sample and to detect the covariates with the strongest association with the variables Disease on arrival, Disease after arrival, ICPC on arrival and ICPC after arrival.

Results

Analyzed observations were 9 857. 81.8% were men, median age was 23 (Interquartile range: 20.0–27.4). 70.3% of the sample came from Sub-Saharan Africa. 2 365 individuals (24%) arrived at the centre with at least one disease. On arrival, skin (27.71%), respiratory (14.46%), digestive (14.73%) and generic diseases (20.88%) were the most frequent. During the stay respiratory diseases were the most common (25.70%). The highest probability of arriving with a disease occurred in 2018 and during the period September–November 2016, in particular for people from the Horn of Africa. During this period and also in the first half of 2017, skin diseases were the most reported. In seasons with lower prevalence of diseases on arrival the most common disease code was generic for both men and women (usually fever or trauma).

Conclusions

This study provides information on the diverse diseases that affect the asylum seekers population. In our sample, the Horn of Africa was the most troubled area of arrival, with severe conditions frequently reported regarding skin diseases, in particular scabies. 2018 was the most critical year, especially for migrants from the Horn of Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. During the stay at the camp, the prevalence of respiratory diseases increased. However, skin diseases remained the main issue for people from the Horn of Africa. Overall, the most reported diseases in the sample were dermatological, respiratory, digestive and generic diseases, both on arrival and during the stay.

A better understanding of the health status of asylum seekers is an important factor to determine a more efficient reception and integration process and a better allocation of economic resources in the context of migrants' health care.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12992-022-00846-0.

Gender, migration and violence among third country nationals accessing the sexual health clinic in Malta

BACKGROUND

In 2020 the number of displaced people worldwide reached 41.3 million (IOM, 2020). Among them, are many migrants and refugees at risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Healthcare providers have a key role to play in identifying migrant victims/survivors of violence.

OBJECTIVES

This paper seeks to assess STIs prevalence, sexual health and sexual violence among third country nationals (TCNs) attending the GUC in Malta.

METHODS

This is a mixed methods study carried out at the Genitourinary Clinic (GUC), which is the only public sexual health clinic in Malta. Demographic data, sexual history and diagnoses of patients attending the GUC between January 2018 and December 2019 were collected and retrospectively analysed. A SGBV risk assessment was performed through a semi-structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

In the 24-month study period, a total of 12,654 patients accessed the GUC in Malta. Demographic data was collected on age, gender, nationality, marital status, and sexual orientation. 16.4% (n=2,064) of these were extra-European migrants, predominantly male. 80 different nationalities were recorded, with the 5 most common being Nigerian, Filipino, Libyan, Syrian and Brazilian. The average age was 32.6 years. Over 110 sex workers were visited at the GUC in the study period - 20 were foreign, primarily from China. The presence of a "massage parlour owner" during consultation, lack of control over passports and other factors were identified as warning signs of trafficking. 5 cases of sexual violence and forced prostitution involving girls from Sub-Saharan Africa and, in 2 cases, boys recently arrived in Malta by boat, were encountered. 6 African women accessing the service exhibited a type of female genital mutilation (FGM).

CONCLUSIONS

Migration, sexual health and SGBV overlap in important ways. Further research and training in SGBV and migration in the healthcare setting and awareness-raising about existing services among the migrant population are required.