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The Proportion of Infectious Disease Cases, Its Associated Factors, and the Appropriateness of Antimicrobial Prescription Among Rohingya Refugee Pediatric Patients in IMARET Mobile Clinics

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Abstract

The Rohingyas fled from their home to escape ethnic persecution. Due to their status as refugees they have difficulties in accessing healthcare leading to avoidable mortality and morbidity. Infectious diseases are reported to be among the causes. To ease access to healthcare, IMAM Response and Relief Team (IMARET) provides a free monthly clinic for them. The objective of this study is to determine the proportion of infectious diseases and appropriateness of antimicrobial usage among its pediatrics patients. It was conducted in 2017, through universal sampling. Information retrieved were via interviews and medical records. The majority diagnosis were infectious diseases (57.1%), which include respiratory infections (77.3%), skin (13.6%), gastrointestinal (4.5%), eye and ear infection (both 1%). Albendazole (40.7%) was the most prescribed. Only 7.4% were appropriately prescribed antimicrobials. Age (p = 0.005) and BMI (p = 0.006) were significantly associated with infections.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the volunteers and patients involved in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, 63000, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia

    Ahmad Rashidi Mohamed Tahir & Xuan Wen Ee

  2. Faculty of Medicine, SEGi University, 47810, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

    Ahmad Yusuf bin Yahaya

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Aneesa Abdul Rashid & Navin Kumar Devaraj

  4. Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (IMAM) Response and Relief Team (IMARET), B G-39, Apartment Sri Penara, Jalan Sri Permaisuri 1, Bandar Sri Permaisuri, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Ahmad Rashidi Mohamed Tahir, Aneesa Abdul Rashid & Ahmad Yusuf bin Yahaya

Authors
  1. Ahmad Rashidi Mohamed Tahir
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  2. Xuan Wen Ee
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  3. Aneesa Abdul Rashid
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  4. Ahmad Yusuf bin Yahaya
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  5. Navin Kumar Devaraj
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Correspondence to Aneesa Abdul Rashid.

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Tahir, A.R.M., Ee, X.W., Rashid, A.A. et al. The Proportion of Infectious Disease Cases, Its Associated Factors, and the Appropriateness of Antimicrobial Prescription Among Rohingya Refugee Pediatric Patients in IMARET Mobile Clinics. J Immigrant Minority Health 23, 1159–1169 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01150-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01150-6

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