[Foreign minors in the protection system of the Autonomous Community of Aragón (Spain)]

To determine the prevalence of foreign minors in protection centers, their demographic characteristics, and reasons for entry, as well as the relation with geographic area, family, social and health risk factors, and high-priority health needs.

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study over an 11-year period (1992-2002). The health and socio-familial reports of 1,619 minors who were admitted to protection centers were reviewed and those from a foreign country were included. Compilation of information, definition of concepts, and health assessments were performed according to standard protocols.

Two hundred forty-one foreign minors (males 66.4 %) with a mean age (SD) of 11 (3.2) years (adolescents 64.7 %, infants-preschoolers 26.1 %) were admitted during the study period. The prevalence was 4.6 times higher than that expected. Origin: Africa 68.9 % (Maghreb 56.4 %, sub-Saharan 12.5 %), Europe 23.6 % (west 14.5 %, east 9.1 %), Latin-America 5.4 %, and Asia 2.1 %. Reasons for entry, demography and relation with geographic area were as follows: 1. Being an abandoned illegal immigrant 41.1 % (all male adolescents, 98 % from the Maghreb); 2. Maltreatment 33.2 % (passive maltreatment-to-active ratio 2.3:1, no difference by sex, age mode 2 years; Asia 80 %; Europe 61.5 %, west-to-east ratio 4.8:1, gypsy ethnicity from Portugal and Rumania 90.3 %; Latin-America 38.4 %; Africa 21.7 %, no difference by geographic area); 3. Temporary incapacity for their care 18.7 % (female-to-male ratio 1.8:1, age mode 1 year; Latin-America 38.4 %, Africa 18.1 %, Europe 17.5 %); 4. Other causes 7 %.

at least one (78.4 %) and more than one (33.6 %); housing problems and especially living in a single parent family. Health disorders: at least one (65.1 %); disabling disease (2.1 %); main problems: dental (36.3 %), immunization (27.6 %), dermatologic (19.1 %), growth and nutrition (13.7 %), and infectious and parasitic diseases (13.3 %).

Being a minor immigrant in a foreign country with problems of documentation, housing or family regrouping and especially if there are language, cultural or racial (ethnic minorities) barriers is a major risk factor for living in a situation of vulnerability, risk or neglect/abandonment that requires social protection measures. Continuous follow-up by the social services of the adoptive community is required for the prevention and early detection of children in need of protection.