Health profile of applicants for refugee status (admitted into Quebec between August 1985 and April 1986)

Refugees requesting asylum when in Canada are termed "Applicants for Refugee Status". The present epidemiological study of a large series of these refugees by the Community Health Department of St-Luke's Hospital in Montreal provides a picture of their social and health profiles. The refugees came from developing countries with serious internal conflicts. On the whole, their state of health was satisfactory. However, in some cases specific diseases were detected which were often connected with their geographical origin. These diseases, which included treponematosis, intestinal parasitosis and nutritional deficiency should in future give rise to health care programs specially adapted to the sub-populations concerned. As regards the problem of torture, both its underestimation and inadequate psychological follow-up among refugees are of great concern and call for special training in treating the effects of torture on its victims.