Amsterdam UMC, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Institute, University of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Jul;183(7):2871-2880. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05523-5. Epub 2024 Apr 9.
To explore the needs, expectations, and experiences of asylum-seeking parents and unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 years on the initial health assessment for children and adolescents and access to care upon entry in the Netherlands, We conducted five semi-structured focus group discussions with asylum-seeking parents and unaccompanied minors, from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and other Middle-East and African countries, supported by professional interpreters. To triangulate findings, semi-structured interviews with health care professionals involved in care for refugee children were conducted. Transcripts of focus group discussions were inductively and deductively coded and content analyzed; transcripts of interviews were deductively coded and content analyzed. In total, 31 asylum-seeking participants: 23 parents of 101 children (between 0 and 18 years old), 8 unaccompanied minors (between 15 and 17 years), and 6 healthcare professionals participated. Parents and minors expressed that upon entry, their needs were met for vaccinations, but not for screening or care for physical and mental health problems. Parents, minors, and health professionals emphasized the necessity of appropriate information and education about health, diseases, and the health system. Cultural change was mentioned as stressful for the parent-child interaction and parental well-being. Conclusion: The perspectives of refugee parents and unaccompanied minors revealed opportunities to improve the experience of and access to health care of refugees entering the Netherlands, especially risk-specific screening and more adequate education about health, diseases, and the Dutch health care system. What is Known: • Refugees have specific health needs due to pre-flight, flight, and resettlement conditions. Health assessment upon entry was non-obligatory in the Netherlands, except for the tuberculosis screening. Health needs were not always met, and refugees experienced barriers in access to care. What is New: • The initial health assessment met the needs concerning vaccinations but mismatched the needs regarding physical and mental health assessment. Screening for specific risk-related diseases and mental health could enable refugee parents and minors to engage better with the health system.
为了探索寻求庇护的父母和 18 岁以下的无人陪伴未成年人在荷兰儿童和青少年初始健康评估以及入境时获得医疗保健的需求、期望和体验，我们与来自叙利亚、厄立特里亚、阿富汗和其他中东和非洲国家的寻求庇护的父母和无人陪伴的未成年人一起进行了五次半结构化焦点小组讨论，讨论由专业口译员协助进行。为了对研究结果进行三角验证，我们对参与难民儿童护理的医疗保健专业人员进行了半结构化访谈。对焦点小组讨论的记录进行了归纳和演绎编码及内容分析；对访谈记录进行了演绎编码和内容分析。共有 31 名寻求庇护的参与者：23 名父母（101 名 0-18 岁的儿童）、8 名无人陪伴的未成年人（15-17 岁）和 6 名医疗保健专业人员。父母和未成年人表示，入境时，他们的疫苗接种需求得到了满足，但他们的体检、心理健康问题筛查和治疗需求没有得到满足。父母、未成年人和卫生保健专业人员强调，有必要提供适当的信息和教育，让他们了解健康、疾病和卫生系统。文化转变被认为会对亲子互动和父母的幸福感产生压力。结论：难民父母和无人陪伴未成年人的观点揭示了改善进入荷兰的难民获得医疗保健的机会和途径，特别是特定风险的筛查以及有关健康、疾病和荷兰医疗保健系统的更充分教育。已知情况：·由于飞行前、飞行中和重新安置期间的条件，难民有特定的健康需求。荷兰入境时的健康评估不是强制性的，除了肺结核筛查。健康需求并未得到满足，难民在获得医疗保健方面遇到障碍。新情况：·初始健康评估满足了疫苗接种需求，但与身心健康评估需求不匹配。针对特定风险相关疾病和心理健康的筛查可以使难民父母和未成年人更好地融入卫生系统。
