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Paul L. Geltman, MD, MPH, Marjorie Radin, MS, Zi Zhang, MPH, Jennifer Cochran, MPH and Alan F. Meyers, MD, MPH

Paul L. Geltman and Alan F. Meyers are with the Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Mass. Paul L. Geltman, Marjorie Radin, and Jennifer Cochran are with the Refugee and Immigrant Health Program, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain. Zi Zhang is with the Division of Research and Epidemiology, Bureau of Health Statistics, Research, and Evaluation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Paul L. Geltman, MD, MPH, Refugee and Immigrant Health Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (e-mail: paul.geltman{at}wshc.org).

Objectives. This study analyzed growth and identified related medical conditions among refugee children in Massachusetts.

Methods. Between July 1995 and June 1998, 1825 refugee children were screened. Variables included positive tuberculin (purified protein derivative; PPD) test; dental abnormalities; pathogenic parasites; weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height z scores; and body mass index greater than the 84th percentile.

Results. Of all the children, 21% had parasites, 62% had caries, and 25% had a positive PPD reaction. Twelve percent overall and 28% younger than 2 years had anemia. Eight percent had height-for-age z scores less than –2, and 6% had weight-for-age z scores greater than +2. Of those aged 1 to 9 years, 7% had weight-for-height z scores greater than +2. Weight-for-height z scores less than –2 were concentrated among Africans and East Asians (both 8%). Height-for-age z scores less than –2 were seen among African (13%), Near Eastern (19%), and East Asian (30%) children. Weight-for-height z scores greater than +2 and body mass index greater than the 84th percentile were concentrated among children from the former Yugoslavia (8% and 15%) and the former Soviet Union (8% and 14%).

Conclusions. Recently arrived refugee children have significant growth abnormalities. European refugees were overweight; those from developing countries had growth retardation.

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