Magnitude of Giardia cases among refugees, adoptees and immigrants in Monroe County, New York, 2003-2013
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
ISSN: 1747-9894
Article publication date: 12 September 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine the morbidity of Giardia in Monroe County, New York attributed to refugees, foreign adoptees and immigrants, and to examine factors related to asymptomatic Giardia infection.
Design/methodology/approach
A retrospective epidemiological analysis was conducted of Giardia case investigations submitted to the New York State Department of Health on the Communicable Disease Electronic Surveillance System, between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2013 from Monroe County Department of Public Health. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess odds for asymptomatic Giardia.
Findings
Of the 1,221 Giardia cases reported in Monroe County during that time, 38 percent (n=467) were refugees, 6 percent (n=77) were foreign adoptees and 1.4 percent (n=17) were immigrants. In total, 95 percent of the refugees and 89 percent of the adoptees/immigrants were asymptomatic, compared to 15 percent of the non-refugee/adoptee/immigrant cases. Unadjusted odds for asymptomatic infection were 113.4 (95 percent CI: 70.6-183.7) for refugees, and 45.6 (95 percent CI: 22.9-91) for adoptees/immigrants.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates the importance of routine screening for Giardia during refugees’ initial health assessment.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declaration of interest: none. The authors would like to thank Donna Hubbard for manuscript review at the Monroe County Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
Citation
Bedard, B., Pennise, M., Weimer, A.C. and Kennedy, B.S. (2016), "Magnitude of
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited