The state of health of migrants and minorities
Από Greece Wiki
The state of the art regarding the health of migrants in Greece remains poor and under-researched, reflecting the lack of epidemiological data. The few published studies focus on a number of health problems and primarily infectious diseases.
Tatsioni et al. (2001) studied biopsies of surgical material from appendectomies performed during 1994-99 in six hospitals in the Greek region of Epirus, near the Albanian border. It was found that Albanian migrants in Greece are at high risk for negative appendectomies, and this is explained on the basis of 'socio-economic, cultural and language parameters underlying health care inequalities' and as well as on the basis of the high mobility of the subject population.
Nikolopoulos et al. (2005)estimate the percentage and the specific characteristics of HIV-positive migrants reported in Greece. Individuals that come from countries outside Greece represent 11.9% of the HIV reported cases in the period 1989 to 2003 (Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control). Out of the 749 migrant HIV positive cases, 439 are males (58.61%)and 303 are females (40.45%). This distribution represents a different picture than the one observed for Greeks, also in what concerns the mode of transmission, that is heterosexual contact for the majority of migrants.
Other studies (Kanavaki et al., 2007; Kanavaki et al., 2005; Konstantinidis et al., 2000; Peonidis et al., 1995) indicate a statistically significant upward trend over time of the proportion of immigrants among the total number of TB patients.
Moreover the few studies covering the Roma population show very high Hepatitis A and B prevalence rates compared to the general population (Zacharakis et al.,2007; Dritsas et al, 1996; Nikolaou et al., 1995).
Emke-Poulopoulos (2001) refers to the consequences of trafficking for sexual exploitation and their implications for both physical and mental health, including psychological trauma, the risk of early pregnancy and its dangers, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. trihomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis).
Another risk factor is related to the occupational tasks and conditions of work of migrants: the daily press often reports on 'occupational accidents' of migrants. According to data from the 'Labour Watch Service' of the Ministry of Employment, the number of immigrants dying in occupational accidents in construction and manufacturing rose from 20 in 2000 to 39 in 2001 and to 40 to 2002, due to the nature of the jobs performed, the limited safety measures undertaken by employers and the low skills of migrant workers specifically for the jobs performed (Eleftherotypia, 18.01.04). Data from IKA (the largest Greek Social Insurance Fund) for 2005 show an incidence rate of approximately 7 accidents per 1000 employees. For workers with a nationality other than Greek or that of an EU country, the incidence rate is higher: at 11 accidents per 1000 employees.
Bibliography on the state of health of migrants and minorities
