The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #36585

Terry Edward Rives, DrPH¹, Javed Pervez, MD², Durdana Poonam², Mazhar Khan, MD², and John McKee, PhD¹. (1) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin #1025, Houston, TX 77030, 713 500 3119, terry.e.rives@uth.tmc.edu, (2) Health Programme for Refugees, UNHCR, H/no 103 Street 12, Defence Officer Colony, Peshawar, Pakistan

Objective: The study sought to compare access to medical care for refugees from Afghanistan living in camp environments and Afghan refugees residing in a somewhat segregated but general urban population in Peshawar, Pakistan. Methods: Data were derived from personal interview responses to a questionnaire designed collaborative by representatives from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Peshawar, Pakistan and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX. One adult family member per family (N=185) provided data for all family members in their household (N=997). The questions were translated from English into one of the following languages: Farsi, Pashto, or Urdu. Results: Sixty-one percent of the urban refugees reported there had been at least one time since becoming a refugee when one of their children had needed medical care but could not receive it, compared to 19% for camp refugees (P value=<0.001). The urban refugees reported that family members received medical care for serious illnesses or injuries 17.6% of the time, while camp refugees reported they received care 58.1% of the time (P value=<0.001). Thirty-six percent of those interviewed reported the death of a child in their family since becoming refugees. Conclusion: Those data collected from Afghan refugees living in the camp environment suggest woefully inadequate, yet greater access to medical care than refugees living in the general population of Peshawar. A larger second study is planned and the results of both studies will be presented for a review of refugee policy.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants can expect to view an assessment of access to medical care for a "shadow" Afghan refugee population that is omitted from the strategic planning process for services by both governments and NGOs.
• The participants can expect to receive data driven results and determine if their interests and/or organizations are matched to the needs of this population.

Keywords: Refugees, Access to Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: United Nations High Commission for Refugees RAWA (Revolutionalry Association of Women From Afghanistan The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.