Health Status of Refugees From Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

Author(s):

Catanzaro, A.; Moser, R.J.

Format:

Journal article

Citation:

Jama: The Journal Of The American Medical Association, Volume 247, Issue 9 (1982). pp. 1303-1308.

Language:

English

Abstract:

More than 0.5 million refugees from Southeast Asia have immigrated to the United States. We undertook a prospective evaluation of 709 refugees within two months of their resettlement in San Diego. The sample included 164 Vietnamese, 356 Cambodians, 139 Laotians, and 50 Hmong. The prevalence of abnormalities was high: intestinal parasites, 61%; positive tuberculin test (PPD) results, 55%; anemia, 37%; hepatitis B antigenemia, 14%; and abnormal VDRL test results, 12%. Except for hepatitis, significant differences were noted among the Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Hmong subjects on each of these health status indicators. The refugee population should not be considered a homogeneous group of Indochinese, particularly by those responsible for their health care. © 1982, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

ISSN:

00987484 (ISSN)

DOI:

10.1001/jama.1982.03320340057036

Identifier:

HmongStudies0382