Health and nutritional status of Vietnamese refugees

There are presently more than 7,000 Vietnamese refugees living in the greater New Orleans area. This paper summarizes the health and information on nutrition now available regarding Vietnamese refugees living in the United States. It is hoped that this effort will add to the documentation of the health changes occurring in migrant populations, and also stimulate the development of programs which will improve the health of the Vietnamese refugees in the United States. Although information on both the national and local level is limited, the following problems are found frequently in the Vietnamese refugee population in this country: dental caries, skin infestations, lack of adequate immunizations, and tuberculosis. Very little information is available concerning dietary habits and their relation to growth and development. There is some evidence that American nutritional patterns are being superimposed on traditional Vietnamese patterns. Target areas for further research are suggested.