Department of Research, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Bjørnemyrveien 11, NO-1450 Nesoddtangen, Norway.
J Rehabil Med. 2019 Dec 16;51(11):861-868. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2624.
To explore the health situation and identify specific health challenges in non-Western immigrants with polio in Norway, by comparing their status with Western immigrants with polio and native Norwegians with polio.
A questionnaire covering demographics, polio history, life satisfaction, medical, psychological and social conditions was answered by 1,408 persons with polio, among them 34 immigrants from non-Western countries and 32 immigrants from Western countries.
The non-Western immigrant polio group had a mean age of 46 years, were highly educated, reported high frequency of mental health problems and only one-third was working. Mean age for contracting polio was 2.8 years. Only 30% was hospitalized in the acute phase and 80% reported severe leg weakness. Use of a powered wheelchair was reported by 72%. Post-polio symptoms had started at a mean age of 31 years. The non-Western immigrant group reported more fatigue, pain and loneliness, and a high proportion reported insufficient assistance from the public health system.
The group of non-Western immigrants with polio in Norway reported more health and social problems than the group of Western immigrants with polio or the native Norwegian group with polio, even though they were younger and more highly educated. Their complex psychological and social situation requires active intervention from the health system, and health professionals need extra skills to deal most effectively with their situation.
通过比较挪威非西方移民脊灰患者、西方移民脊灰患者和本土挪威脊灰患者的健康状况，探讨非西方移民脊灰患者的健康状况和特定健康挑战。
问卷调查涵盖人口统计学、脊灰病史、生活满意度、医疗、心理和社会状况，1408 名脊灰患者（其中 34 名来自非西方国家的移民和 32 名来自西方国家的移民）回答了问卷。
非西方移民脊灰患者组的平均年龄为 46 岁，受教育程度较高，心理健康问题高发，仅有三分之一的人在工作。发病时的平均年龄为 2.8 岁。仅 30%的人在急性期住院，80%的人报告严重的腿部无力。72%的人使用动力轮椅。出现后脊灰综合征的平均年龄为 31 岁。非西方移民脊灰患者组报告疲劳、疼痛和孤独感更多，相当一部分人表示公共卫生系统提供的帮助不足。
与西方移民脊灰患者或本土挪威脊灰患者相比，挪威的非西方移民脊灰患者报告了更多的健康和社会问题，尽管他们更年轻，受教育程度更高。他们复杂的心理和社会状况需要卫生系统的积极干预，卫生专业人员需要额外的技能来有效应对他们的情况。
