Health Overview Demographics

Each year, Arizona resettles more than 3,000 . Since the inception of the Arizona refugee resettlement program 30 years ago, Arizona has welcomed more than 60,000 refugees from 109 countries speaking 126 languages and dialects. Refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and other special immigrants are legal immigrants as indicated by their I-94. They are immediately eligible upon arrival for social services, such as AHCCCS, SSI, and ALTECS.

Common Health Concerns

Behavioral Health Chronic Diseases

PTSD, , , and substance abuse rates are Due to lifestyle changes, some refugees begin to develop very high across refugee populations, with some studies re- chronic diseases like heart disease, , and hyperten- porting rates higher than 50%. sion after arrival. Many refugees witnessed violence, armed conflict, sexual assault, and torture before resettlement. Infectious Disease

In addition to trauma experienced overseas, issues like finan- Many refugees are coming from countries with low vaccina- cial insecurity, language barriers, racism, and acculturation tion rates, prevalent parasitic , and low access to also contribute to behavioral health challenges. care. Below is a listing of some of the most common infec- tious diseases seen in refugees populations in Arizona. Dental Refugee Infectious Disease Incidence, 2013 Dental problems are one of the highest refugee health needs 113 upon arrival. COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS 57 TUBERCULOSIS 18 Because RMAP and AHCCCS do not cover adult dental ser- SALMONELLOSIS 7 vices, many of these issues go untreated. 5 For more refugee health data, visit AZRefugeeHealth.org Barriers to Care Refugees often face many healthcare access challenges. The specific barriers vary significantly between individuals, but some common barriers include:  Inadequate interpreter services  Poor understanding of health care  Low levels of education and literacy  Conflicting communication style system  Limited  Desire to maintain modesty and gen-  Conflict between traditional beliefs  High cost of care der preferences in seeking and ac- and Western medicine  Transportation difficulty  cepting care Low adherence to preventive care  Unfamiliarity with modern amenities   Traditional gender roles Lack of follow-up care  Stresses of resettlement Refugee Health Pathway Refugee Medical Assistance Program screening to be completed to see a patient. Screening records can be request by contacting the screening clinic directly at The Refugee Medical (602) 506-6650 (Maricopa) or (520) 694-2919 (Pima). The Assistance Program health screening the following tests and procedures: (RMAP) is a temporary, federally-funded  Patient Medical History health benefit program RMAP Card  Full Physical Exam for refugees, asylees, and other special immigrants. It serves as insurance cover-  Brief Assessment age for essential health services for the  Tuberculosis Screen and Chest X-Ray first 60 days after arrival to the US or the  Hepatitis B/Hepatic Function Test first 60 days after asylum is granted. Refu-  HIV Test gees will receive an RMAP card to claim these benefits. I-94 Form  Lead Screening (< 16 years old)  Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis Screening (> 12 years old) Domestic Health Screening  /Eosinophilia Screening  Ova and Parasites Screening All refugees are entitled to a comprehensive preventive health screening within 60 days of arrival or being granted asylum.  Malaria Screening The intent of this exam is to determine if the refugee has any  Hansen's Disease Test communicable diseases. You do not need to wait for the 

Refugee Health Program Resources Cultural Competency guages support effective health educa- Services and Organizations tion with refugee patients. Community Profiles provide a brief over- The Refuge Health Program also pro- view of common beliefs, experiences, vides listings of community resources, and health concerns of specific refugee such as local refugee-oriented organiza- communities. tions, refugee health training opportuni- ties, and interpretations and translation services. Language Access

“I Speak” Cards allow patients to easily indicate their language needs to their provider.

Health Literacy “Point to Your Language” chart allows Translated Health Materials in the 11 providers to identify a patient’s pre- most commonly spoken refugee lan- ferred language.

For more refugee health data, visit AZRefugeeHealth.org