The Burden of Chronic Health Conditions among Iraqi Refugees in Michigan

Authors

Melissa M. Reznar PhD, MPH, Oakland UniversityFollow
Florence J. Dallo PhD, MPH, Oakland UniversityFollow
Andrew J. Kurecka MPH, MedNetOne Health SolutionsFollow
Julie J. Ruterbusch MPH, Wayne State UniversityFollow
Kendra Schwartz MD, MSPH, Wayne State UniversityFollow
Madiha Tariq MPH, ACCESS Community Health & Research CenterFollow

Abstract

The vast majority of refugees in Michigan is from Iraq, and yet the health status of this population is not well defined. The purpose of this study was to describe chronic disease prevalence of Iraqi refugees and examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and chronic disease. This study reviewed medical charts of 613 Iraqi refugees to examine the association between demographic characteristics and chronic conditions. The dependent variables were body mass index, non-fasting blood glucose, and history of hypertension and diabetes. The independent variables were birth place, age, sex, and smoking history. Men were 3.99 times (95% CI=1.88, 8.48) as likely as women to have abnormal non-fasting blood glucose levels. Compared to never smokers, former smokers were 3.19 times (95% CI=1.11, 9.13) as likely to have a history of diabetes. The findings will be used to develop tailored prevention interventions to prevent chronic conditions among refugees.

Recommended Citation

Reznar, Melissa M. PhD, MPH; Dallo, Florence J. PhD, MPH; Kurecka, Andrew J. MPH; Ruterbusch, Julie J. MPH; Schwartz, Kendra MD, MSPH; and Tariq, Madiha MPH (2020) "The Burden of Chronic Health Conditions among Iraqi Refugees in Michigan," Michigan Journal of Public Health: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/mjph/vol10/iss1/6