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Nutritional status of Southeast Asian refugee children
Insights
Newly arrived Indochinese refugee children showed high rates of anemia and stunting. These nutrition-related health issues were identified in a study comparing them to earlier refugee arrivals and national health data.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Immigrant Health
Background:
- Over 300,000 Indochinese refugees resettled in the U.S. since 1975.
- Nutrition-related health data is crucial for understanding refugee child well-being.
- Early identification of health disparities aids targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the nutritional status of Southeast Asian refugee children under six.
- To compare anthropometric and hematological data of recent arrivals with earlier groups.
- To identify specific nutrition-related health concerns in newly arrived refugee populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of medical records from four west coast clinics (July 1979 - June 1989).
- Inclusion of 821 Southeast Asian refugee children under six years of age.
- Comparison of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and anthropometric data against a pre-1979 cohort and national reference data.
Main Results:
- Newly arrived refugee children exhibited significantly higher rates of anemia.
- The study group presented with marked stunting compared to the established comparison group.
- While stunted, the children did not display signs of severe wasting.
Conclusions:
- Recent Southeast Asian refugee children face significant nutritional challenges, including anemia and stunting.
- These findings highlight the need for ongoing nutritional monitoring and support for refugee populations.
- Public health initiatives should address the specific health needs of newly resettled children.
Abstract:
Since 1975 nearly 300,000 Indochinese refugees have been relocated in the United States. The Nutrition Division, Centers for Disease Control. Atlanta, surveyed the medical records of four west coast clinics to obtain nutrition-related data on 821 Southeast Asian refugee children under six years of age, arriving between July 1979 and June 1989. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and anthropometric data were compared to those of a comparison group of Southeast Asian children screened prior to 1979 and to a National Health Examination Survey reference population. The newly-arrived refugee group was found to be highly anemic and stunted relative to the comparison group. Although stunted, the study group did not appear greatly wasted.