HEALTH AND NUTRITION IN NEWLY RESETTLED REFUGEE CHILDREN FROM CHILE AND THE MIDDLE-EAST

The general health and nutritional status of 105 refugee children from Chile and the Middle East were examined shortly after the arrival in Stockholm. A chronic medical condition was present in 10 % and there were clinical signs of caries in 57 % of the children. Iron deficiency was found in 15% of Chileans and 6% of Middle Easterners, but no other nutritional deficiencies were discovered. Stunting and wasting was rare and a significant catch-up growth was observed in both groups in a follow-up 18 months after resettlement. Obesity was common in the Chilean group on arrival in Sweden and increased further after resettlement. We conclude that chronic medical conditions, caries and obesity were the major somatic health problems in this sample of newly resettled refugee children.