Citation

Seagle EE, Vargas M. J. Immigr. Minor. Health 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Georgia Department of Public Health, Division of Health Protection, Refugee Health Office, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10903-019-00866-w

PMID

30826995

Abstract

Mental health screening (MHS) during the initial health assessment is recommended within 90 days of arrival to the U.S. Yet, MHS prevalence is not well understood. Screening prevalence [prevalence ratio (PR), adjusted prevalence ratio (adjPR)] and factors associated with MHS were assessed among refugees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, parolees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking ≥ 14 years old resettling in Georgia from 2014 to 2017. Of the 2019 individuals included, 55% received a MHS. Screening was more common among older individuals [reference: 13-22 years old; adjPR 23-35 = 1.20 (1.12-1.29), adjPR 36-49 = 1.14 (1.03-1.26), adjPR ≥ 50 = 1.27 (1.15-1.41)] and those without Medicaid [adjPR Medicaid vs. none = 0.75 (0.63-0.89)]. MHS also differed by country of birth. Although MHS has increased within recent years, gaps exist within sub-populations and geographic regions. Efforts should focus on increasing MHS to ensure timely identification of concerns and linkage to services.

Language: en

Keywords

Mental health; Refugees; Resettlement; Screening